Written Answers Nos. 497 - 521
497. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number and types of home loan facilities available to non-first time buyers from his Department, through the local authorities or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7829/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s housing policy statement published in June 2011 marked a radical departure for housing in Ireland, including a shift to a tenure neutral high level objective, and a clear commitment to restoring balance to the housing sector generally through a lesser reliance on home ownership. The statement also announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes on the basis that these had been symptoms of, rather than solutions to, an overheated property market.
The policy statement reaffirms the State’s commitment to supporting access to home ownership for lower to middle income households and the current range of paths to home ownership will remain in place in that regard.
There are two types of house purchase loan available from local authorities: standard annuity loans targeted at lower income first time buyers and those under the Home Choice Loan scheme which are available to qualifying middle income first time buyers affected by the “credit crunch”.
The terms and conditions governing the operation, including eligibility terms, of annuity mortgages and the Home Choice Loan are set out under various Regulations such as the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009, the Housing (Home Choice Loan) Regulations 2009, and most recently in the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012. These are available on my Department’s website: www.environ.ie
To ensure effective targeting of limited resources, loan finance continues to be available to first time buyers only. Non-first time buyers may seek home loan facilities in the private sector.
It is not the intention of the Home Choice Loan scheme – or of any other Government intervention in the housing sector – to incentivise people into the market. It is designed only to facilitate credit worthy households who have been affected by conditions in the mortgage market.
As such, the scheme is a temporary one which will be withdrawn once conditions in credit markets return to normal patterns. Recent data published by the Central Bank would indicate that that point has not yet been reached.
498. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons known to be homeless here at present. [7865/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra499. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost to the State of housing homeless persons in hotels. [7871/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra500. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to tackle the housing crisis, specifically homelessness, and to build more social housing. [7873/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 498 to 500, inclusive, together.
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.
My Department does not fund any service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Payments made by my Department under Section 10 generally equate to 90% of costs incurred by housing authorities and these authorities provide at least 10% of the cost of such services from their own resources. Housing authorities may incur additional expenditure on homeless related services which supplements funding by my Department and other agencies including the Health Service Executive.
While it is clear that a proportion of funding must be used to provide sufficient bed capacity to accommodate those in need of emergency accommodation it is equally important that resources are channelled to deliver more permanent responses in a more focused and strategic way.
Details of expenditure on emergency accommodation by each of the 9 regions for the years 2009 to 2012 are presented in the table; anticipated outturn figures are provided for 2013 and the finalised figures are expected shortly.
|
Region |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 - (anticipated) |
|
Dublin |
€24,397,869 |
€23,812,112 |
€20,637,019 |
€21,480,711 |
€23,211,421 |
|
Mid-East |
€647,482 |
€706,131 |
€603,815 |
€596,284 |
€661,507 |
|
Mid-West |
€3,272,105 |
€2,709,591 |
€2,277,486 |
€2,819,672 |
€2,623,927 |
|
Midland |
€620,262 |
€489,697 |
€496,310 |
€500,507 |
€484,662 |
|
North-East |
€1,254,284 |
€987,344 |
€1,010,497 |
€957,606 |
€607,462 |
|
North-West |
€170,973 |
€168,483 |
€174,608 |
€151,224 |
€137,764 |
|
South-East |
€1,331,020 |
€1,267,039 |
€1,435,474 |
€1,328,768 |
€845,267 |
|
South-West |
€2,207,807 |
€1,871,783 |
€1,535,326 |
€1,837,284 |
€1,554,756 |
|
West |
€1,022,715 |
€793,305 |
€574,106 |
€753,565 |
€610,888 |
|
Total |
€34,924,518 |
€32,805,484 |
€28,744,640 |
€30,425,621 |
€30,737,655 |
Traditionally it has been difficult to quantify the number of homeless persons on an on-going basis; this is in part a consequence of the volatility within this cohort of housing need. The Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS) was extended nationally in 2013 and is now operational nationwide. PASS will assist housing authorities to report on the dynamics of homelessness as it is addressed and 2014 will be the first year for which PASS will produce composite national data. These reports will be published on my Department's website as soon as they are available. In advance of the composite national data on homelessness to be available through PASS, the most complete set of data available in relation to homelessness nationally is the Central Statistics Office’s special Census report, Homeless Persons in Ireland, which was published on 6 September 2012. This report indicated that a total of 64 individuals were sleeping rough on Census night, 10 April 2011, while identifying a further 3,744 people as housed in accommodation defined as emergency, transitional or long-term. Of the total of 3,808 individuals included in the report almost 60% were in long-term or transitional housing arrangements. This report is available on CSO's website, www.cso.ie.
In February 2013, I published the Government’s Homelessness Policy Statement in which the Government's aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. The statement emphasises a housing-led approach which is about accessing permanent housing as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. The availability and supply of secure, affordable and adequate housing is essential in ensuring sustainable tenancies and ending long-term homelessness.
The Homelessness Oversight Group, which I established in 2013 for the purposes of reviewing the progress of the approach being advocated in the statement, identifying obstacles and proposing solutions has submitted its first report to me. The report considered information on the homeless population, emergency and other accommodation as well as housing supply issues. I am considering this report and its recommendations and I will consult with my Government colleagues on the implementation of these recommendations, as appropriate. A copy of this report is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.
501. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any of his Departmental or Ministerial offices have been swept for electronic or any other type of surveillance or bugging equipment since coming to office in March 2011; the reasons for this check; the results of this check; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7892/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department has not carried out a specific sweep for surveillance or bugging equipment, it does carry out assessments of its ICT systems and infrastructure. My Department uses security hardware and software systems to identify and eliminate malware, viruses and other threats to the security of its systems. This involves both internal resources and the engagement of external ICT systems security support when required.
502. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the status of moneys allocated for the provision of individual sewerage schemes by his Department during the years 2012 and 2013; if these moneys remain ring fenced by Irish Water for the provision of these same schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7902/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. It is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 that will provide for the transition of projects included in the 2010 – 2013 Water Services Investment Programme. The further progression of all water services capital projects is a matter for Irish Water. This includes confirmation that funding will be available to progress schemes.
503. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form from each county a list of moneys allocated under the housing aid for elderly scheme, housing adaptation grant for people with a disability and also mobility aids grant for the past four years. [7926/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the allocations to local authorities in respect of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability over the period 2011 to 2014 are set out in the table. There are three distinct measures under this scheme, Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability, Housing Aid for Older People and Mobility Aids Grants. It is a matter for the Local Authority as to how they apportion their overall allocation between the three measures. The schemes are funded by 80% recoupments available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
|
Local Authority |
Exchequer Allocation |
Exchequer Allocation |
Exchequer Allocation |
Exchequer Allocation |
|
Carlow |
€1,079,211 |
€1,179,211 |
€634,081 |
€658,359 |
|
Cavan |
€1,500,000 |
€1,050,000 |
€880,847 |
€914,395 |
|
Clare |
€2,500,000 |
€1,100,552 |
€1,237,486 |
€1,291,810 |
|
Cork |
€5,000,291 |
€6,629,387 |
€3,814,922 |
€3,925,585 |
|
Donegal |
€2,477,239 |
€815,517 |
€778,088 |
€780,000 |
|
D’Laogh/Rathdown |
€926,872 |
€888,482 |
€740,471 |
€844,147 |
|
Fingal |
€1,657,892 |
€1,657,892 |
€1,460,348 |
€1,561,049 |
|
Galway |
€1,900,000 |
€1,900,000 |
€1,438,098 |
€1,519,824 |
|
Kerry |
€2,767,218 |
€2,606,292 |
€1,358,026 |
€1,431,022 |
|
Kildare |
€2,850,836 |
€1,620,000 |
€1,739,898 |
€1,819,830 |
|
Kilkenny |
€1,494,000 |
€1,494,000 |
€1,190,906 |
€1,234,891 |
|
Laois |
€916,874 |
€867,862 |
€384,826 |
€418,656 |
|
Leitrim |
€790,929 |
€555,044 |
€229,861 |
€246,032 |
|
Limerick |
€1,375,380 |
€1,378,764 |
€1,269,913 |
€1,330,679 |
|
Longford |
€1,000,000 |
€994,860 |
€577,400 |
€595,574 |
|
Louth |
€1,076,573 |
€949,012 |
€963,068 |
€1,016,769 |
|
Mayo |
€2,175,646 |
€2,060,173 |
€2,160,404 |
€2,227,225 |
|
Meath |
€1,171,277 |
€857,766 |
€499,545 |
€572,776 |
|
Monaghan |
€1,055,266 |
€1,200,000 |
€711,729 |
€739,703 |
|
North Tipp |
€1,285,745 |
€960,000 |
€497,939 |
€531,864 |
|
Offaly |
€1,647,450 |
€700,000 |
€551,663 |
€586,105 |
|
Roscommon |
€2,050,232 |
€783,401 |
€616,597 |
€649,019 |
|
Sligo (Borough and County) |
€1,132,614 |
€1,106,822 |
€343,280 |
€375,351 |
|
South Dublin |
€2,465,658 |
€1,782,647 |
€1,229,012 |
€1,333,635 |
|
South Tipperary |
€2,500,000 |
€2,489,371 |
€1,057,262 |
€1,099,782 |
|
Waterford |
€990,659 |
€795,813 |
€378,996 |
€410,847 |
|
Westmeath |
€914,631 |
€790,524 |
€522,701 |
€561,000 |
|
Wexford |
€2,082,723 |
€2,153,418 |
€1,070,672 |
€1,138,712 |
|
Wicklow |
€919,408 |
€763,835 |
€543,301 |
€603,039 |
|
Cork City |
€2,166,333 |
€1,399,793 |
€1,491,600 |
€1,552,805 |
|
Dublin City |
€9,088,969 |
€7,614,654 |
€4,410,309 |
€4,656,977 |
|
Galway City |
€819,706 |
€872,682 |
€417,504 |
€448,222 |
|
Limerick City |
€1,220,000 |
€1,520,000 |
€931,256 |
€958,560 |
|
Waterford City |
€632,248 |
€662,225 |
€353,930 |
€376,099 |
504. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in County Offaly, for example, when applying for the housing aid for elderly scheme, housing adaptation grant for people with a disability and mobility aids grant one is advised that one's application cannot be considered for three to five years; and his views on this matter. [7927/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra505. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when his Department is allocating funding under the housing aid for the elderly scheme, housing adaptation grant for people with a disability and also mobility aids grant, if consideration is given to the number of applicants on each waiting list in each county; and if not his views on this matter. [7928/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 505 together.
I recently announced capital allocations to local authorities amounting to €38.4 million under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. I have increased the level of funding available for the grant schemes by 12% in 2014. Every local authority has increased funding for grants compared to the allocations for 2013. Offaly County Council’s overall allocation under the grant schemes for 2014 is €586,105 compared to €551,663 last year. Allocations in 2014 were determined on the basis of the level of grant activity in local authorities in 2013 and on population statistics with a weighting applied in respect of the numbers of persons aged over 65 years.
Through careful management of my Department's housing budget in 2013, additional funds were made available to local authorities with high levels of grant activity, including Offaly County Council. I will be applying the same close scrutiny to the capital budget for 2014 and, in the event of savings arising, these grants will be a priority for supplementary funding.
In January 2014, some changes to the terms and conditions of the grant schemes were notified to local authorities. These changes are intended to spread the benefits of the schemes as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in their operation. I am aware that the grant measures are heavily subscribed across all local authority areas and my Department will be requesting authorities to prioritise those applications where the most urgent need exists.
507. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider an immediate tenant purchase scheme and with the proceeds make vacant local authority dwellings available to deal with the consistent rise in demand for local authority housing. [7930/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government, on 17 December 2013, approved priority drafting of a Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill that will, among other things, underpin a new tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines. I expect that the Bill will be enacted this year, following which I will prescribe in regulations the commencement date and the detailed terms of the scheme.
I propose in the Bill to extend the application of section 13 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to the new tenant purchase scheme. This provision will enable housing authorities, with my prior approval, to use sales receipts under the new scheme for housing and related purposes, including the refurbishment of existing housing.
508. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list any new organisations-agencies established in his Department since 9 March 2011; the role and functions and the annual operating budget for these organisations-agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7943/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board merged with the establishment of the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) in August 2012. The LGMA also took on the residual functions of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, which has dissolved as of 1 November 2012. The LGMA is a central resource for the local government sector, providing, procuring and coordinating a range of support services and expertise which are most appropriately and efficiently delivered on a shared service basis at national level.
A detailed breakdown of the annual income and expenditure for the LGMA is contained in its annual reports, the latest of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
The Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA) was established in 2012. It rationalises the functions of the National Building Agency (NBA), the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) and the Centre for Housing Research (CHR). The AHP and the CHR have been closed down and the NBA ceased operating in June 2011. The HSCA was set up to work with and support local authorities, approved housing bodies and my Department in the delivery of housing and housing services.
As published in the Revised Estimates Volume, provision of €1,600,000 has been made for the HSCA for 2014, in comparison to €1,704,000 in 2013. In accordance with the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (Establishment) Order 2012, the Agency’s first accounting year will be from date of establishment to 31 December, 2013. The accounts are currently being audited and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible.
The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bórd Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provided for the transfer, in part, of water services functions from 34 water services authorities to Irish Water with effect from 1 January 2014. The Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services 2014 provides an amount of €490 million for Irish Water from the Local Government Fund in 2014; the final outturn figure for 2014 will be slightly less at €486.5 million. This amount will fund water related expenditures incurred heretofore by local authorities, and met by them from their own resources and general purpose grants. In 2014, Irish Water will also receive €240 million in equity from the Minister for Finance.
The Pyrite Resolution Board was established on an administrative basis in February 2013 and was placed on a statutory footing in January 2014 following the enactment of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. The role of the Board is to oversee and direct the delivery of a cost effective pyrite remediation scheme for homeowners whose homes are affected by significant damage due to pyritic heave and where there are no other practicable options for redress. The Board will work with the Housing Agency to deliver the scheme. Using existing staff resources from my Department and the Housing Agency the Board will be able to undertake its role efficiently and without the necessity for a separate staffing structure.
Initial funding of €10 million is being made available to my Department in 2014 to enable the remediation programme to begin and I expect that additional funding for 2014 and 2015 will be allocated later this year. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 dwellings are currently in need of repair and the required work programme will be undertaken over a two year period.
509. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding of €400,000 will be provided under his Department's special needs projects to complete a housing project for the elderly (details supplied). [7969/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding is provided to Approved Housing Bodies, through the local authorities, for the provision of accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need, including older persons, persons with a disability or homeless persons.
In January 2014 my Department requested local authorities to submit by 28 March, 2014 a prioritised list of new CAS projects to be progressed over the next two years. It will be a matter for local authorities to determine the relative priority of projects on the basis of their contribution to meeting local housing need and to shortlist these in order of merit. Further consideration of the CAS projects for funding approval over the next two years, including projects in County Galway, must await the receipt of submissions from the local authorities.
510. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm if any financial aid is being made available for businesses affected by recent weather damage and flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7977/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to help communities affected by the recent severe weather, including flooding, the Government last week decided that a sum of up to €70 million will be made available for a programme of repair and remediation works of public infrastructure. This includes roads, coastal protection, piers, harbours, amenities, tourism and community infrastructure. The funding is in addition to the €25 million which Government had already announced for Humanitarian Assistance schemes.
Damages to private businesses as a result of the recent severe weather and flooding are a matter for the owners of those businesses and their insurers, if applicable. As part of the response to the recent flooding events, the Department of Finance is currently undertaking a review of the availability of flood insurance cover. When the review is complete, it will be examined by the Minister for Finance who will report to Government on what measures, if any, are needed to improve the availability of flood insurance cover.
511. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the implications for farmers in relation to succession rights of the Memoranda of Understanding being signed by those who have allowed their land to be used by wind turbine operators. [8034/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra512. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the concerns that landowners who have entered into option agreements with developers of wind farms have unwittingly been tied into legally binding contracts that stop succession rights to the land, prevent activity on the property which may interfere with the wind speed or wind direction over the property, that landowners will not apply for any planning permission without first requesting the developer's approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8035/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Question Nos. 511 and 512 together.
I have no role in relation to private legal contracts entered into between land owners and developers of wind farms. It is a matter for land owners to seek their own legal advice on such matters.
513. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine the way in which motor tax is paid; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if a person wants to pay their motor tax per quarter or half yearly they will incur an additional charge for doing so; if he will consider a waiver of the additional charge or a reduction in the additional charge for less well off persons who pay quarterly and half yearly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8044/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMotor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The half-yearly and quarterly payment options incorporate a surcharge element which covers the administrative costs involved in processing the higher volume of applications. The estimated annual income from the increased charges for half-yearly and quarterly vehicle licences is in the region of €50 million. A loss in income from this source would have a negative impact on the Local Government Fund and consequently on grant allocations to local authorities from the Fund, and would have to be borne elsewhere in the motor tax system, or through the taxation system generally.
I have no plans to adjust the surcharge element for paying motor tax on a half-yearly or quarterly basis.
514. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regards to housing applications, if a person is no longer in possession of divorce or separation papers and cannot afford a solicitor to supply another copy, if a sworn affidavit will suffice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8092/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no proposals to change the requirement in the prescribed application form for social housing support that, where the fact of a divorce or separation agreement is relevant to a household’s application, the applicant must submit a copy of the relevant documents or agreement to the housing authority. This requirement is in line with Regulation 11 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, which provides that an applicant for social housing support must provide to the housing authority such additional information as the authority requires for the purpose of verifying information relating to its application.
515. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units built; and the number that were allocated in each council area in the country for 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. [8150/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy, and those data are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. Data on the number of social housing units built are included in this range and are broken down by local authority area. We do not, however, collect information on the allocation of units.
516. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the supply of water to households throughout the country by Irish Water; the specific standards that will be required in relation to the level of lime in the water; the measures that will be taken to reduce the lime content in water where persons receive the water from the public Irish water supply which can damage the piping and equipment in houses due to the lime content and persons are required to incur expenditure to install a system to reduce the lime content in the water and if this cost can be off-set against water charges; if he will outline the requirement on Irish Water to provide a similar quality of water to all houses in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8156/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the operation of water services infrastructure and for the provision of drinking water in accordance with the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No.2) Regulations 2007, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the water quality regulator, is the supervisory authority for public supplies under the Regulations.
Under the Regulations, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied is wholesome and clean. Water which is wholesome and clean is defined as water which is free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which in numbers or concentrations constitute a potential danger to human health, and which meets the quality standards specified in the Schedule to the Regulations. Hard water and the minerals associated with hard water are not included as parameters in the quality standards specified in the Regulations as they do not pose as a threat to human health. Even though hard water is safe to drink and meets the required drinking water standards, some households may choose to soften their supply but this is a matter of personal choice.
518. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will introduce legislation to ensure that 80% of the local property tax will be retained in the local authority area in which it is raised as promised by the Government on 12 March 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8175/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe local government funding model has changed considerably in 2014. For example, the establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector will have a considerable impact on the arrangements for local authority financing. In addition, under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, the Minister for Finance, from 2014 onwards, is to pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year; this will contribute to a range of financial supports being provided to local authorities, including General Purpose Grants and funding, on the basis of Service Level Agreements, for water services which local authorities will be providing on behalf of Irish Water.
The Government has indicated an intention to move to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax receipts within the local authority area where the Tax is raised. Given the significant changes to local government financing already taking place in 2014, as outlined above, it has been necessary to defer defining a certain proportion of the proceeds of the Local Property Tax to be retained in each local authority until 2015. This approach allows maximum flexibility in allocating Local Property Tax proceeds in 2014, particularly in terms of General Purpose Grants, with a priority to support those local authorities with weaker funding bases.
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; 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.
The implications of local retention of Local Property Tax, including identifying any necessary legislative requirements, are being considered in the context of preparations for the budgetary process for 2015.
519. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be a further redistribution of unspent funds which have been allocated by local development companies under the Leader programme in the near future; if he will prioritise those measures which are aimed at job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8188/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2013 I announced an additional €4 million under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP). Funding of €1 million was targeted at the Gaeltacht areas which suffered a loss of funding when Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta went into liquidation in 2011 and €3 million to the areas which experienced a reduction of greater than 15% in the revised allocation awarded in May 2013. The current programme is fully allocated and I anticipate commencement of the next programme in early 2015.
Preparations in respect of the design, content and implementation of the 2014 – 2020 RDP are currently under way and a number of stakeholder meetings and public consultations have already taken place. Those interested in contributing to the process can do so by making a written submission to rdp.@environ.ie.
520. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the projected timeframe for the completion of the pilot waste water treatment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8193/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume the question refers to pilot group sewerage schemes. Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997.
In December 2012, I announced an increase in the grant for group sewerage schemes to €6,500 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. The previous rate of grant available was €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost, whichever was the lesser.
I proposed, in the first instance, to carry out a number of pilot schemes based on the increased grant level. My Department asked local authorities to include in their requests for funding under the 2013 Rural Water Programme proposals for pilot group sewerage schemes which might be viable based on the increased grant.
Following an examination of the proposals received, with particular regard to the environmental justification provided and the estimated costs, I approved grant assistance towards pilot schemes in nine different counties in 2013.
A review of progress on the selected pilot schemes will be completed as soon as possible with a view to deciding how best to proceed with the grant scheme.
521. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent widespread flooding, if he will outline the broad content and objectives of this country’s policies on climate change; the levels of this country’s adherence to EU and other international protocols on climate change. [8204/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Questions No. 141, 142, 143 and 150 of 22 January 2014 which sets out the process under which national greenhouse gas mitigation policy and climate change adaptation policy are being progressed. I also refer to the outline Heads of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill which I issued in February 2013.
The National Climate Change Adaptation Framework, which was published in December 2012, provides for the development and implementation of sectoral and local adaptation action plans which will form part of a comprehensive national response to the impacts of climate change. The Framework provides that sectoral adaptation plans are to be made by the relevant Department or Agency and published by mid-2014. Sectoral plans will be revised at least every 5 years.
The spatial planning process provides the means through which climate change responses, including adaptation, will be integrated and implemented at local level. Under the National Framework, local authorities will make an assessment of the extent to which existing development plans adequately address adaptation to climate change, for example, in respect of flood risk assessment and, where they consider it necessary and appropriate, will initiate a review process of relevant plans by mid-2014. Local development planning will, in effect, become the mechanism for the delivery of local climate adaptation action.
In terms of adherence to EU and international protocols on climate change, Ireland is subject to legally binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol in respect of the period 2008 to 2012, and a 2009 EU Effort Sharing Decision (No. 406/2009/EC) in respect of the period 2013 to 2020.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, Ireland was required to limit growth of GHG emissions to 13 per cent above 1990 levels over the period 2008 to 2012. Under the 2009 EU Effort Sharing Decision, which applies to GHG emissions outside the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System, Ireland must limit growth of GHG emissions to 20 per cent below 2005 levels over the period 2013 to 2020.
Ireland is on course to confirm compliance with its target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol in the commitment period 2008 to 2012.
In respect of the period 2013 to 2020, Ireland’s emission reduction target under EU law is ambitious and challenging. I am satisfied that Ireland is on course to comply with the mitigation trajectory in the first half of the compliance period. I will keep under review progress in terms of meeting the compliance challenge in the years 2017 to 2020, having regard to the outcome of the on-going programme for the development of national climate policy and legislation.
