Written Answers Nos. 32-39
32. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to reports by SIPTU that contractors involved in the installation of water meters for Irish Water are not abiding by agreements in relation to pay and conditions for workers in the sector. [11902/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish Water has informed my Department that it has engaged with SIPTU on a monthly basis since the commencement of the meter installation programme in August 2013. In the metering contracts, Irish Water has set out standards for employment terms and conditions for workers on the metering project. These provide for rates of pay and conditions of employment, including pension, which are in line with the former Construction Industry Registered Agreements.
Irish Water has engaged an auditor, who was selected from a panel put forward by SIPTU, to conduct random audits on metering contractors. Irish Water is satisfied that its contractors are currently compliant with all of the contract terms in relation to pay and conditions (including sick pay, death in service benefit and pensions). The auditing process has identified a low number of incidents of non-compliance. When this has happened, contractors were given a short timeframe to become fully compliant and Irish Water continues to work with the contractors to investigate and rectify any issues. The audit process will remain in place for the duration of the metering programme and any issues identified or raised in relation to contractors will be promptly addressed.
33. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of all land and property owned by Dublin City Council in the Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 areas; if each local authority is required to maintain a list of the properties it owns; if this is shared with central Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11705/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no function in the matter in question and my Department does not have the information requested. The maintenance of records of properties in their ownership is a matter for each local authority.
I am advised that the Office of Public Works (OPW) has convened a Steering Group on Property Asset Management, drawn from the main public service bodies that have significant property experience and interests, with the intention of promoting greater efficiency and coordination of property asset management in the wider public service and the adoption throughout the public service of energy conservation measures. My Department and the County and City Managers’ Association are represented. In relation to a register of properties, the main focus of the Group is on office accommodation.
34. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to simplify the procedures and processes whereby local authorities can remove material from rivers, streams and drains in an effort to improve drainage and thereby reduce the possibility of flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10558/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPursuant to Part XI of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 a local authority may carry out development in its functional area which does not contravene materially the development plan. In this regard, where the estimated cost of a proposed development is less than €126,000, a local authority can proceed to carry out the proposed development without the need to obtain the approval of its elected members. However, where the estimated cost of the proposed development exceeds €126,000, the approval of the elected members must be obtained, pursuant to section 179 of the Act and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001, following a process of public consultation and consultation with prescribed consultees where appropriate.
Where the proposed development requires environmental impact assessment or appropriate assessment, Part 8 of the Planning Regulations does not apply. In such circumstances, sections 175 and 177AE of the Planning Act provide that the local authority must submit the proposed development to An Bord Pleanála for approval. The provisions of the Act and Regulations are kept under review in my Department.
35. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will overturn the decision to have all decisions regarding local authority provision of works for the disabled and the elderly referred to his Department. [11774/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 58 of the Housing Act 1996, the management and maintenance of the local authority social housing stock, including the carrying out of planned maintenance and the provision of minor adaptation works to meet the needs of tenants, is a matter for individual authorities.
My Department provides funding to local authorities for a range of measures to improve the quality and standard of the social housing stock, including estate–wide remedial works, the regeneration of disadvantaged social housing estates and flat complexes and the provision of extensions for persons with a disability. In the case of extensions and adaptations to the social housing stock, local authorities have been advised that funding for these works in 2014 will be considered on a case by case basis.
In the case of privately owned properties, funding is provided under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities. Grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Three separate schemes are available, the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme:
(i) Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (HAG ) which assists people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. Grants for up to €30,000 are available for works including the provision of access ramps, stair lifts, accessible toilet and shower facilities, wheelchair access and extensions,
(ii) the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (MAG) is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works,
(iii) the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP) provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting etc.
The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants under the various grant measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
36. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number and location of local authorities that have used the litter enforcement grants to purchase CCTV equipment, enhanced lighting or undertaken other measures to deter anti-social behaviour, graffiti and illegal dumping, particularly in litter black spots; the progress reported by local authorities following on from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11806/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra42. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress in relation to the litter enforcement grants scheme; his plans to extend the duration and nature of the scheme; if there are any proposals to allow for legal graffiti walls in towns and cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11807/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 42 together.
A list of the local authorities which were granted funding from the once-off grant allocation of €750,000 provided by my Department in 2012 to assist local authorities improve enforcement in the area of fly-tipping and small-scale illegal dumping is set out in the table below. My Department does not have details of the number or location of CCTV cameras installed by local authorities to address incidences of litter and graffiti, as management and enforcement responses to litter and graffiti are the primary responsibility of each local authority.
My Department also provides funding under the anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness grant scheme to support local authority efforts to encourage long-term behavioural change by individuals. I made a total of €900,000 available to fund suitable projects under the scheme in 2013 and will be making €850,000 available this year.
Data available under the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System show that the number of areas surveyed in 2012 deemed to be completely unpolluted stands at 10.4%, the highest level achieved since monitoring began. Conversely, the number of areas surveyed deemed to be grossly polluted at 0.3% is at the lowest ever level. Data for 2013 are not yet available. Sections 19 and 20 Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the legislative framework for the treatment of graffiti, including, as necessary, powers for local authorities to remove or otherwise remedy the defacement. Section 19 provides that, where any structure is in or is visible from a public place, a person who is not owner, occupier or person in charge thereof shall not carry out any defacement thereof by writing or other marks, unless the person is authorised to do so in writing by such owner, occupier or person in charge.
|
County Council |
Allocation |
|
Carlow |
15,000 |
|
Cavan |
15,000 |
|
Clare |
22,500 |
|
Cork |
30,000 |
|
Donegal |
30,000 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
30,000 |
|
Fingal |
30,000 |
|
Galway |
30,000 |
|
Kerry |
30,000 |
|
Kildare |
30,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
15,000 |
|
Laois |
15,000 |
|
Leitrim |
15,000 |
|
Limerick |
22,500 |
|
Longford |
15,000 |
|
Louth |
22,500 |
|
Mayo |
22,500 |
|
Meath |
30,000 |
|
Monaghan |
15,000 |
|
Offaly |
15,000 |
|
Roscommon |
15,000 |
|
Sligo |
15,000 |
|
South County Dublin |
30,000 |
|
South Tipperary |
15,000 |
|
North Tipperary |
15,000 |
|
Waterford |
15,000 |
|
Westmeath |
15,000 |
|
Wexford |
22,500 |
|
Wicklow |
22,500 |
|
City Council |
|
|
Cork |
30,000 |
|
Dublin |
30,000 |
|
Galway |
30,000 |
|
Limerick |
22,500 |
|
Waterford |
22,500 |
|
Total |
€750,000 |
37. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the analysis that was carried out to determine the effect of the 20% requirement for social and affordable housing in any development above five houses; and the potential effects on development of removing these requirements and the social and affordable housing stock. [11915/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra41. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the Government’s commitment to the principles underlying Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 is expected to be borne out in the context of the pressing and major crisis in housing provision; the way future proposals in this area will address the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11898/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Question Nos. 37 and 41 together.
The Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2013. Details regarding the review are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. The period for public submissions has closed and submissions from a variety of interested parties are now under consideration in my Department.
I am fully committed to the principle that there should be a social housing gain from private developments, but it must be recognised that in the present context, where the number of applications for planning permission for new private developments are at an extremely low level, the social housing gain is correspondingly very low. I believe that we need to strike a balance between stimulating the construction sector to enable it to meet demand, while still ensuring that there is a proportionate social housing gain from any increased activity in the sector.
I expect to be in a position to formulate future policy approaches and actions, taking account of the consultation process, in the near future.
39. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of families recorded as being in need of housing and registered on local authority housing waiting lists in each of the past ten years to date; notwithstanding the serious economic crisis which he inherited on coming into office, the extent to which he can expect to deal with the now seriously emerging housing situation with particular reference to the need to access urgently required housing units throughout Dublin and adjoining counties thereby addressing the most serious housing crisis since the foundation of the State; if consideration can or has been given to emergency action in this regard; when such housing might be available to those currently homeless, in emergency accommodation or about to become homeless as a result of increased private rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11889/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report on the 2011 Housing Needs Assessment, available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie, contains details of waiting list numbers for each local authority which were recorded under the tri-annual social housing needs assessments carried out from 1993 to 2011 under Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988. The latest social housing needs assessment was carried out as at 7 May 2013 in accordance with Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and these results are also available on my Department’s website.
The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date figures available on waiting list numbers, which are subject to on-going fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying for housing support. However, the 2013 results cannot be directly compared to previous results given that this latest summary employed different methodologies and it was the first to be carried out under the 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations.
As regards the housing situation and homelessness, in February 2013 I published the Government’s Homelessness Policy Statement in which the 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 the supply and access to housing units throughout the country. A copy of this report is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. On 25 February 2014, the Government approved the establishment of a Homelessness Policy Implementation Team and an implementation unit. The team is tasked with implementing the Homelessness Oversight Group's First Report.
This will include the preparation and publication of a structured, practical plan to make the transition from a shelter-led to a sustainable housing-led response to homelessness and to achieve the 2016 goals for homelessness. This plan will be a practically focused delivery plan to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation for homeless households within the next three years and mobilise the necessary supports. It will contain actions that will be direct, immediate and solutions based.
The implementation team is representative of the key State agencies dealing with homelessness, housing and related services because the solutions to homelessness do not solely reside in my Department. The team is being led by my Department and it includes a senior official from the Department of Social Protection and the Health Service Executive as well as the Managers of Dublin City Council and Monaghan County Council representing local authorities. The team will report on this plan to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy in April 2014 and quarterly thereafter.
I am acutely aware of the significant number of families now presenting as homeless in the Dublin region and the extremely challenging situation that this is presenting to Dublin City Council. My Department is working with Dublin City Council on measures to address this emerging situation and the plan will incorporate actions to address this and other accommodation related issues. I expect that in the region of 5,000 social housing units will be provided in 2014. I am committed to continuing to develop innovative and sustainable approaches to the provision of social housing.
