Written Answer Nos 377-401
377. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the roll-out of the water metering programme, if Irish Water is complying with international standards in the fitting of boundary water meter boxes and specifically, as per international standards, if the correct grade B boundary boxes are being installed in vehicle access locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16295/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra378. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that Irish Water and their four main framework contractors have IS EN ISO 9001:2008 certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16296/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if old lead pipes have to be replaced under an EU scheme when Irish Water is installing meters; if there are any health and safety issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16457/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 377, 378 and 381 together.
The 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. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the company the necessary powers to allow it to undertake the metering programme.
While it is a matter for Irish Water to comply with all national and European legislation in the discharge of its functions, the company has confirmed to my Department that it is satisfied that the selection and fitting of the boundary water meter boxes fully complies with international standards. For a Grade B cover and frame, the metering project tender documents for supply of boundary boxes set out the required conformance in relation to both loading classification and loading tests. The essential requirement was compliance with Grade B test loading for Grade B tendered boxes. Grade B boundary boxes are used where deemed necessary by Irish Water designers. They are fitted in accordance with the boundary box manufacturer’s recommendations and procedures which Irish Water designers have also incorporated into their designs. Furthermore, Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that the four main framework contractors have IS EN ISO 9001:2008 certification.
Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations. The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 microgrammes per litre. There is no requirement to replace lead pipes as part of a European Union scheme. However, as part of the metering programme, Irish Water will be identifying the location of any lead service connections during the installation programme.
379. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to make changes to the building regulations to ensure carbon monoxide alarms are put in all new buildings; if such a change could be made; and if same would require a statutory instrument or a Bill. [16305/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart J of the Building Regulations 1997 and the associated Technical Guidance Document J – Heat Producing Appliances (1997) set out the current legal requirements for the use and installation of heat producing appliances in buildings and the disposal of the products of combustion in a manner that protects the health and safety of the occupants and reduces to a reasonable level the risk of buildings catching fire in consequence of their use.
In recent years, my Department has signalled its commitment to considering whether, and in what circumstances, mandatory provision for carbon monoxide detectors might be appropriately included in Part J/Technical Guidance Document (TGD) J. With this in mind and having regard to the latest developments in the applicable standards since 1997, a broadly representative working group was established by my Department in mid-2011 to undertake a comprehensive review of Part J/TGDJ . Over the course of the review, my Department, in conjunction with other relevant public bodies, were satisfied that concerns previously held over sensor reliability and the lack of any end-of-life indicators in carbon monoxide detectors had been addressed by recent developments within the industry.
From the evidence of carbon monoxide incidents in the UK and abroad, the majority appear to occur with solid fuel appliances, with gas and oil being the safest. Open flue or flueless appliances, because they take the combustion air from a room, have a potentially greater risk than a balanced flue scenario. In addition, Part L of my Department’s Building Regulations 1997, which deals with the c onservation of fuel and energy, has required all new and replacement boilers in dwellings to have an efficiency of 86% since 31 March 2008 and an efficiency of 90% since 1 December 2011. This promotes the installation of room sealed boilers, which have a lower risk of the escape of carbon monoxide due to balanced flues.
Against this background, I have recently signed the Building Regulations (Part J Amendment) Regulations 2014 and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document J – Heat Producing Appliances (2014) which include new requirements in relation to the detection and warning of carbon monoxide in new dwellings , and in existing dwellings where the replacement of certain heat producing appliances is proposed. These regulations come into force on 1 September 2014.
Under the new regulations, provision is made for the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in -
- new dwellings where open flue or flueless combustion appliances are being installed,
- existing dwellings where replacement open flue or flueless combustion appliances are being installed,
- habitable rooms where a system chimney attached to a heat producing appliance passes within or over such rooms.
While the new regulations will give added protection to new dwelling owners, and to the owners of existing dwellings when heat producing appliances are being replaced, it is important to note that the key actions required to prevent carbon monoxide incidences are and continue to be: -
(1) the proper installation and commissioning of heat producing appliances and flues/chimneys,
(2) ensuring proper air supply is maintained to combustion devices, and
(3) the proper maintenance and inspection of combustion appliances on a regular basis.
Notwithstanding the new regulations, the regular and continued provision of information to raise awareness of the potential dangers of carbon monoxide in homes will need to be maintained by the relevant authorities.
380. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on granting an offshore licence for refurbishment works on Dún Laoghaire baths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16363/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application from Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council for a consent under the Foreshore Act 1933 to undertake refurbishment works to Dún Laoghaire Baths is currently being assessed by my Department. The public and prescribed bodies consultations on the application, as required under the Foreshore Act, have been concluded.
The next stage of the process is for the Marine Licence Vetting Committee to review the application. I will make a determination on the application in due course based on the recommendations of the C ommittee and my Department and subject also to my Department agreeing recommended site specific conditions and financial considerations with the applicant.
383. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in a letter to Sligo County Council dated 18 December 2013, his Department indicated that €1 million had been set aside from the local government fund for Sligo County Council and that the funding would be provided to the council in 2014 on the basis of an agreed long-term financial plan between the council and his Department, which would detail the council's proposals for dealing with the council's accumulated deficit and on condition of ongoing review of the implementation of the agreed plan by way of quarterly review meetings between the council and his Department; if his Department intends to provide further additional funding to Sligo County Council in the current year to assist the council in paying the significant legal debts and the costs imposed by the Supreme Court arising from the Lissadell rights of way legal case; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo County Council did not make any provision in its annual budgets in respect of legal and other costs for the Lissadell case; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that according to the most recent auditors report released in November 2013, the council's total revenue-capital debt had increased to €94 million; the avenues that are open to a local authority in such dire financial circumstances to acquire funding to settle such legal costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16502/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a matter for each local authority, including Sligo County Council , 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 , including authorising the incurring of additional expenditure .
€1m was held back from the original general purpose grant allocation to Sligo Council. The subsequent letter from my Department made the allocation of this €1m conditional on an agreed long term financial plan to address the Council’s accumulated deficit being adopted by the Council in early 2014. The allocation of the €1m in 2014 is fully conditional on a realistic and achievable plan which charts a path to long term financial sustainability being agreed between my Department and the Council.
I am aware of the financial position of Sligo County Council and, while it is a matter for individual local authorities to manage their own finances in a prudent and sustainable manner, my Department is in regular and ongoing consultation with Sligo County Council in relation to their financial position.
384. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way it was determined which groups or associations would be recognised under the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and considered best suited to act as assigned certifier. [16511/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra385. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the evidence his Department considered when they made a decision not to include chartered architectural technologists to the list of registers identified under the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014; and the evidence considered when deeming that the said professional body were not suitable as competent under the said Act as an assigned certifier. [16512/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together.
The Building Control Act 2007, among other things, provides for the registration of persons entitled to use the professional titles of Architect and Building Surveyor. The title of Chartered Engineer is also protected by separate legislation. Registration of title is necessary in order to protect consumers from unqualified persons passing themselves off as construction professionals. This is now less likely to occur as statutory certificates required for building control purposes must now be given by registered professionals, following the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which came into effect on 1 March 2014.
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 the regulations is entirely appropriate.
It is important to note that inclusion on the statutory registers is not confined or restricted to members of the professional bodies who have been recognised in law as the registration body. Although the profession of Architectural Technologist is an unregulated profession in Ireland any such person, who possesses the requisite competence in the design of construction works, may seek inclusion on the statutory registers. It is understood that a number of Chartered Architectural Technologists have succeeded in becoming registered as Architects and/or Building Surveyors. Inclusion on either of these registers enables a person to sign statutory certificates of compliance as provided for under the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014.
Neither I nor my Department has any role in the assessment, evaluation or validation of competence of construction professionals. This is a matter for the professional bodies who have been designated as the relevant competent authorities for the purposes of EU and n ational law, namely Engineers Ireland (EI) in respect of the Engineering profession, the Royal Institut e of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) in respect of the a rchitectural profession and the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI) in respect of the surveying professions.
Architectural Technologists who consider they possess the requisite competence in the design of construction works should be advised to contact EI, RIAI and SCSI in order to identify the route to registration most suited to their own individual circumstances.
386. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to the setting up of Irish Water, what will become of those water schemes that currently own their own infrastructure but get their water from a local authority; the way they will be charged for the water they distribute through pipelines that they developed and installed themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16523/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra399. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water is engaging with the group water scheme sector, including the national federation of group water schemes; if he will address their concerns including setting bulk prices enabling them to take into account costs and prices for the year ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16637/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra400. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water has taken on board the fact that the group water scheme sector has ten times greater lengths of watermains per consumer connection to operate and maintain when compared with the public mains now operated by Irish Water, but that this rural sector has ten times fewer customers on which to levy charges; if this will be considered in any review of funding requirements for the rural group water scheme sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16638/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra401. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the existing legislation for taking charge of group water schemes, if his Department is aware of the need for, and is working to address the immediate need to develop policies and procedures around drinking water provision outlining in detail the roles and responsibilities of various entities including his Department, local authorities, Health Service Executive, EPA, Irish Water, GWS and NFGWS, regarding function and how they should interact to ensure efficient take over when the need arises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16639/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 399 to 401, inclusive, together.
The 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. The Government will decide on the proposed approaches to be taken in relation to the free allowance in the near future including how any such decision might be reflected in the subsidy arrangements that currently exist for the Group Water Sector.
The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to charge for water services. The Act also provides that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the economic regulation of Irish water and the charges to be levied by Irish Water will be subject to the approval of the CER. The CER has already undertaken public consultations on the development of the economic regulatory framework for water services and will be undertaking further consultations during 2014. Water charges will not commence until 1 October 2014 and the first bills will be issued by Irish Water to households from January 2015.
Group Water Schemes that are supplied by way of a connection to the public water supply network will now become customers of Irish Water, having previously been customers of the relevant local authority. Group Water Schemes that have their own water sources will not be customers of Irish Water and will continue to operate as before.
My Department will remain responsible for the overall policy and funding, where appropriate, of the non-public water sector, including the group water sector. Over the past decade, substantial improvements have been made in the group water sector, reflected in improved infrastructure and management and leading to greater compliance with drinking water standards. This has been accomplished through a partnership approach between my Department, the local authorities and the group water sector itself, with the important involvement of the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. The co-operative approach will be maintained as the reform of water services provision is progressed.
The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 also provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. Under the legislation, Irish Water now has the powers previously held by local authorities in relation to the takeover of Group Water Schemes and this means that Irish Water may acquire by agreement a waterworks or waste water works, but subject generally to not fewer than two thirds of those entitled to dispose of it (typically the members of a group water services scheme) giving their consent.
Where local authorities had, at the request of Group Water Schemes, already taken them into charge before 31 December 2013, the schemes’ networks now form part of the public water supply network being transferred to Irish Water.
My Department asked Irish Water to put in place specific arrangements to address the queries which public representatives may have in relation to matters pertaining to the operation of water services under the new utility. I understand that Irish Water has made contact with Oireachtas members to outline the arrangements for addressing such queries in a timely manner.
387. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if and when he will instruct Cork County Council to take in charge an estate (details supplied); if the estate is now ready to be handed over to the local authority in view of the considerable work already undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16527/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra390. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for the stalling of the taking in charge process for estates in the Killucan area of County Westmeath. [16568/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reactivate and complete the taking in charge process for estates in the Killucan area of County Westmeath. [16569/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 387, 390 and 391 together.
Taking in charge of estates is a matter for the relevant planning authority under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. I have no role or power to direct planning authorities in this regard. Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority is or may be concerned.
388. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 349 of 1 April 2014, the total fund now available to the Pyrite Resolution Board; if the initial €10m has been increased, as planned, and by how much; and the timeframe for the selection of homes and for the commencement of works. [16562/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe initial phase of the pyrite remediation programme will deal with approximately 1,000 dwellings which, it is estimated, are in need of urgent repair. In October 2013 , the Government approved initial funding of €10 million for the implementation of the scheme in 2014. Further funding will be provided over the next two years following consultation with the nister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of a further capital stimulus package.
At this point in time, it is not possible to look beyond the figure of 1,000 dwellings which may be in need of repair. However, there are a number of positive indications, including the number of applications received by the Pyrite Resolution Board to date , which suggest the number of dwellings requiring remediation is in line with this estimated figure.
The Pyrite Resolution Board commenced accepting applications from eligible homeowners for inclusion in the pyrite remediation scheme on 26 February 2014. I understand that the Board has received just over 400 completed applications at this stage and these are currently being processed. While the Board is keen to ensure that there will be no undue delay in the validation, assessment and verification processes, it is inevitable that it will take some time to undertake the processing of the applications currently on hand and those that will be submitted over the period ahead . The Board is committed to moving as quickly as possible to the works phase of the remediation process and I understand that it is their intention that this phase will commence in the second half of the year .
389. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the responsibilities and powers of county and city councillors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16563/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraCouncillors have a wide range of reserved functions, details of which are defined in law across a large number of enactments. These comprise mainly decisions on important matters of policy and finance. Schedule 3 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, in conjunction with section 21, sets out, for the first time, a comprehensive list of reserved functions. In accordance with the structural reconfiguration at sub-county level provided for in the 2014 Act, these functions will be performed by Councillors at municipal district level and/ or at full Council level. Apart from reserved functions specified in statute, councillors represent their electorate over a range of public issues and also have a right of representation on a number of other public bodies which operate locally and regionally.
393. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the costs to his Department to process and respond to a priority, an oral and a written parliamentary question. [16590/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo staff in my Department are assigned on a full-time basis to dealing with Parliamentary Questions, which are dealt with, as the need arises, by the staff of the Business Units dealing with the particular issue(s) raised in individual questions. The number and level of staff and the time spent on preparing responses to individual Parliamentary Questions, and the associated cost, depends on a range of factors, including the complexity of the issue raised and the extent to which the information involved is readily available in my Department. Undoubtedly, a considerable amount of time is required to answer the significant number of questions tabled to me by Deputies. However , it is not possible to readily quantify the cost involved for the reasons outlined above and, as the processing of individual Parliamentary Questions is undertaken as part of the normal day to day work of individual Business Units within my Department, it would be unnecessarily burdensome to endeavour to iso late the administrative costs from the overall administrative costs of my Department.
396. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the context of the national directive in respect of section 10 funding for homeless and related services which has resulted in a 75% cut in funding for Dundalk women's refuge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16630/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra397. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the Government funding under section 10 homeless and related services for local councils across the State for each year from 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16631/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra398. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form his Department’s funding for women’s refuges across the State for each year from 2009; the basis on which this funding was allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16632/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 396 to 398, 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 and related services rests with 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. Housing authorities provide additional funding from their own resources.
The total Section 10 funding provided by my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis for the years 2009 to 2013 , the component of that funding which was for domestic violence refuges, are set out in the tables below. The regional approach is considered more appropriate as it helps to bring a more strategic perspective to bear on action to address homelessness, including avoidance of over-concentration of homelessness services in certain centres and promoting appropriate regional availability of services, consistent with need.
Under the funding arrangements, responsibility for rigorous assessment, appraisal and decision making in relation to proposals for funding of particular services within the current budgetary allocation rests with the homelessness statutory Management Group of the respective region. My Department has no function in regard to decisions on operational matters which, in the case of the Dundalk women’s Refuge, are a matter for the North East Homelessness Management Group, with Louth County Council as the lead authority.
I recently notified housing authorities of provisional regional homelessness allocations for 2014 and these will be formalised when the protocol for the delegation of Section 10 homeless funding has been agreed between my Department and the lead housing authority in each of the 9 regions. In notifying housing authorities, I sought to encourage them to target their homelessness spending on certain categories of expenditure and indicative national targets were identified to guide authorities in framing their homeless budgets. A national expenditure target of 4.4% (or €2.2 million) was identified for domestic violence refuges in 2014.
The Homelessness Oversight Group, which I established in 2013 for the purposes of reviewing the progress of the approach being advocated in the Homelessness Policy Statement, identifying obstacles and proposing solutions has submitted its first report to me. The report, a copy of which is available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/, recommended that existing funding arrangements for the provision of domestic violence refuge accommodation and services should be transferred to the new Child and Family Agency; this will be considered in the context of my Departments wider engagement with the Agency in relation to the report’s recommendations. A Homelessness Policy Implementation Team is tasked with implementing the Homelessness Oversight Group's First Report and it will report on this plan to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy later this month and quarterly thereafter.
Funding p rovided under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988
|
Region |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Dublin |
€38,967,542 |
€40,521,375 |
€35,732,525 |
€32,398,290 |
€31,322,223 |
|
South East |
€1,945,792 |
€1,742,886 |
€2,110,476 |
€1,848,877 |
€1,787,469 |
|
North East |
€1,197,451 |
€1,037,617 |
€912,250 |
€910,194 |
€879,963 |
|
Midlands |
€872,375 |
€666,344 |
€624,897 |
€672,027 |
€649,707 |
|
South West |
€5,458,211 |
€4,270,143 |
€3,505,749 |
€4,418,967 |
€4,272,197 |
|
Mid-West |
€4,110,166 |
€3,435,607 |
€2,905,457 |
€3,516,119 |
€3,399,336 |
|
West |
€2,175,312 |
€1,699,288 |
€1,227,696 |
€1,581,478 |
€1,528,951 |
|
Mid East |
€885,801 |
€906,842 |
€697,665 |
€839,146 |
€811,275 |
|
North West |
€444,206 |
€423,355 |
€406,335 |
€360,865 |
€348,879 |
|
Total |
€56,056,856 |
€54,703,457 |
€48,123,050 |
€46,545,963 |
€45,000,000 |
Funding provided under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 in respect of domestic violence refuges
|
Region |
2009 € |
2010 € |
2011 € |
2012 € |
2013 € |
|
Dublin |
332,080 |
567,447 |
519,402 |
524,975 |
753,305 |
|
Mid East |
92,710 |
92,710 |
92,710 |
85,598 |
94,710 |
|
Midlands |
175,404 |
49,008 |
49,008 |
49,008 |
46,093 |
|
Mid-West |
571,657 |
507,609 |
443,561 |
507,609 |
509,193 |
|
North East |
155,746 |
126,721 |
140,000 |
188,000 |
12,900 |
|
North West |
23,853 |
23,853 |
23,853 |
23,853 |
41,369 |
|
South East |
434,304 |
415,542 |
462,289 |
406,371 |
401,991 |
|
South West |
249,635 |
240,864 |
214,303 |
237,242 |
228,083 |
|
West |
153,950 |
134,116 |
106,837 |
134,116 |
152,691 |
|
Total |
2,189,339 |
2,157,870 |
2,051,963 |
2,156,772 |
2,240,335 |
