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Thursday, 15 May 2014

Written Answers Nos. 141-151

Fire Service

Ceisteanna (141)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

141. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current position regarding Keeping Communities Safe; the resources that have been available to implement this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21871/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In February 2013 I published Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) as national policy for the future direction of fire services in Ireland. The document was the outcome of a collaborative review process, which included consultation with stakeholders, undertaken by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in my Department. KCS sets out an overall systemic approach to the objective of reducing the number of fires and consequent annual loss, based on a risk management approach to fire safety. This combines the important elements of fire prevention with fire protection in buildings as well as fire service response. For the first time in Ireland, KCS establishes a set of national standards and norms against which local authority fire service provision can be benchmarked. The standards adopted are in keeping with international good practice in this field and provide a basis for achieving consistency across fire services.

The implementation phase is focussing on the integration of these national norms and standards into individual fire service planning over the period 2014 – 2015. One of the first steps has been the preparation of ‘Area Risk Categorisation’ reports by each fire service. Three years of actual fire data has been processed as part of the ‘Risk-Based Approach Project’ by the National Directorate in my Department. This analysis has enabled local authorities to assign a fire risk categorisation by station area. The data also allows comparison of trends for different categories of fires at individual fire station level with national norms. Specific targets for reduction of fires are being established by station area and will be actively pursued by fire services.

Individual fire services are now engaged in comparing their current local services with the national norms, established for the first time in KCS, and identifying any changes required which are to be implemented before December 2015. Fire services are also preparing the next generation of ‘Section 26’ ‘Fire and Emergency Operations Plans’ to be put before their Councils for consideration and adoption.

The process of external validation of local authority implementation of KCS, as provided for in the policy document, has commenced. This involves the National Directorate reviewing the position of each authority in relation to the steps set out in KCS and the extent to which national norms, standards and guidance are forming the basis for fire service provision. The first Annual External Validation Report will be completed in December 2014. KCS recommends, inter alia, the re-alignment of fire service structures, with the current 30 services being reduced to 21 service delivery units. The integration of fire services in Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford has been successfully undertaken and this experience provides a basis for developing the recommended ‘shared services’ arrangements among fire authorities.

KCS is being implemented at both local authority and national level within the current resource envelope. There is a strong collaborative approach between the National Directorate and the fire authorities to ensure that necessary implementation support arrangements are in place. A small number of expert staff have been made available by fire authorities to the National Directorate on secondment arrangements to progress specific projects.

Water Charges Introduction

Ceisteanna (142, 148, 149, 150)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

142. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the person liable for water charges in the case of rented residential properties such as private rentals, approved housing body rentals, rental accommodation scheme rentals and local authority rentals; if the user pays principle will be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21905/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the basis on which it is proposed to ensure domestic water users in homes which do not have meters will not be overcharged when the charging regime commences later this year; and if he will set out the full details of how families whose homes are not metered before charging for water commences will be assessed. [22004/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the metering of apartments and his target for the number and proportion of apartments that will be metered by the end of the metering installation process in 2016. [22005/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the commitment given by him that homeowners would enjoy a free first fix for any faults on the customer side, the basis on which it was decided to limit the period during which this will apply to a mere six months. [22006/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 148 to 150, inclusive, together.

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. A customer is the occupier of the premises in receipt of water services. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the water charges plan to be prepared by Irish Water is subject to the approval of the CER. The CER is currently undertaking a public consultation on the approach to the design of domestic water tariffs for both metered and unmetered properties. Further consultations are planned for June in relation to other aspects of the water charges plan to be submitted to the CER by Irish Water. The CER will be announcing the approved water charges in August 2014. Full details of the CER’s public consultation plans are available on its website (www.cer.ie).

I have indicated that I intend to use my powers under the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 to issue a policy direction to the CER in relation to a number of matters relating to domestic water charges, including the calculation of assessed charges. Households that are connected to the public water supply, but do not have a water meter installed, will be charged on an assessed basis, primarily based on occupancy . There will also be provision for a rebate, when a customer moves from an assessed charge to a metered charge and usage is deemed above a reasonable threshold by comparison to the subsequent metered usage.

Irish Water has recently commissioned a study on possible approaches to metering properties that are not part of the current metering programme, including apartments and properties with shared service connections. This report was recently submitted to my Department and the recommendations of the report are being considered . In particular, the Department is exploring with Irish Water the potential to include a new phase of metering of some 48,000 apartments, which the report suggests can be easily metered as part of a separate procurement.

The Government has decided to introduce a “first fix free policy” to assist householders who may have leaks on their property. Under this scheme, Irish Water will deliver a scheme entitling every household to a free fix of the first leak on a customer’s water supply pipe. The scheme is estimated to cost some €51 million to the end of 2016. Details of the scheme will be announced by Irish Water shortly.

Water Charges Introduction

Ceisteanna (143, 153, 154, 156)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

143. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to comments (details supplied), if he will confirm that contrary to the comments of the regulator, homeowners will not have to pay an additional charge for wastewater out following the enactment of water charges under the Waters Services (No. 2) Act 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21971/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

153. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the charge for water for persons who are connected to a public water supply and who provide their own wastewater treatment will be less than for those who are connected both to a public water supply and a public wastewater system in view of the statement in the official announcement by the Government that each household will receive an annual free allowance of 30,000 litres of water and a corresponding allowance of wastewater per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22039/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

154. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a system whereby the wastewater systems of those charged for water under the new regime of water charges and who are on private wastewater systems will be emptied free of charge once a year in lieu of the free allowance of 30,000 litres wastewater allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22040/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

156. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the basis on which households that are either connected to group water schemes or private sources of water but that are connected to public sewers will be charged for their wastewater in view of the statement that these households will be customers of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22045/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 153, 154 and 156 together.

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it.  It also assigns responsibility for the independent economic regulation of Irish Water to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and Irish Water will be subject to the approval of the CER. The approach to charging will be outlined by Irish Water in a water charges plan to be submitted by it to the CER in line with the provisions of the Act. The CER will be responsible for approving the water charges plan which will set the approaches to charging customers for water services received. In advance of this decision the CER is carrying out a number of public consultations on the water charges plan. Currently, consultation is taking place on the approach to the design of domestic water tariffs for both metered and unmetered properties and the draft Irish Water customer handbook . Further consultations are planned for June in relation to other aspects of the water charges plan to be submitted to the CER by Irish Water. Full details of the CER’s public consultation plans are available on its website (www.cer.ie).

Where a household is connected to a public water supply but is not connected to a public sewer, the household will only pay for water supply and will not be liable for charges for waste water treatment. If a household is connected to the public sewer and not connected to the water supply, it will only be charged for wastewater collection. A combined charge, based on a water in/water out basis will apply to households receiving a public water supply and discharging waste water to the public sewer. The Government has announced its intention to provide operational subvention to Irish Water, conditional on the average charge for those households with water supply and waste water services not exceeding €240 per year.

The responsibilities of owners of properties connected to domestic waste water treatment systems to operate and maintain the systems correctly are set out in the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 and associated regulations, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library. The Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012 provide that septic tanks and similar systems should be de-sludged at intervals appropriate to the tank capacity and the number of persons resident in the premises connected to it. Servicing and de-sludging domestic waste water treatment system s are actions which owners should be carrying out as a matter of course to ensure that their systems are functioning properly and not causing a risk to human health or the environment. I have no plans to introduce a free de-sludging scheme.

Environmental Protection Agency Governance

Ceisteanna (144, 145, 146, 147)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

144. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason he has not acted immediately in respect of recommendation 7.6.4 of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, review group to the effect that the EPA should be subject to the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction in the context of alleged maladministration. [21994/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

145. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason he appointed a person (details supplied) being an internal appointment, when the EPA review group recommended in 7.2.2 that an external chairperson should be appointed. [21995/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

146. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that his Department has reviewed the composition of the selection committee as set out in the EPA Act and if a report has been submitted to him which the EPA review group mentioned under item 7.2.4. [21996/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken in regard to recommendation 7.2.2 by the review group that the EPA should be more answerable to the Oireachtas by means, for example, of the extension of the parliamentary questions process to State agencies as is set out in the programme for Government and recommendation 7.6.7 which states that a whistleblower law would be introduced. [21997/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 to 147, inclusive, together.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Review Implementation Plan, which was published in January 2012 and is available on my Department’s website,

http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/EPA/PublicationsDocuments contains a list of 58 actions arising from the review, some of which are a matter for my Department and others which are the responsibility of the EPA and others. In the plan, I prioritised a number of actions for implementation in 2012, with others to be considered over a longer period as they will require detailed consultation and possibly primary legislation. Details of the expected timeframes for the implementation of individual recommendations were set out in the implementation plan.

Implementation of the majority of recommendations is progressing in a satisfactory manner. For example, in response to the recommendation that there should be increased emphasis on knowledge and experience of environmental protection in the appointment of members of the Advisory Committee, I introduced the Environmental Protection Agency (Advisory Committee) Regulations 2012, which made adjustments to the bodies included in the list of prescribed bodies, notably to reflect the increasingly important interface of the environment with health matters and the EPA’s interactions with the academic sector. In making appointments to the 6th Advisory Committee, I also considered the suitability of persons expressing an interest in membership, the need to establish an appropriate balance of expertise in the Advisory Committee’s overall membership and the achievement of gender balance. However, delays have arisen in the implementation of some issues particularly those requiring legal advice and/or legislative change. My Department and the Agency have continued to liaise on implementation and I expect to publish a review of progress made in the near future.

In regard to whistleblower legislation, my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, T.D., published, in July 2013, the Protected Disclosure Bill 2013, which will establish a detailed and comprehensive legislative framework protecting whistleblowers in all sectors of the economy. This legislation is currently progressing through the Oireachtas.

Questions Nos 148 to 150, inclusive, answered with Question No. 142.

Unfinished Housing Developments

Ceisteanna (151)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

151. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a situation involving an estate not taken in charge (details supplied) in County Kildare where public lighting was recently abruptly terminated and then restored on a temporary basis; the permanent solutions available to him to try to tackle this problem and prevent recurrences; if he has discussed the matter with Kildare County Council and other local authorities; if the assessment criteria for awarding funding to complete unfinished estates will be changed to make provision for guaranteeing public lighting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22018/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The maintenance of public lighting systems and specifically the payment of electricity bills arising in housing developments, either finished or unfinished, remain the legal responsibility of developers/receivers until taken in charge by the relevant local authority. This is an on-going concern for residents, local authorities and my Department. Until taken in charge, housing developments are the responsibility of the relevant developer and in some cases receivers acting on the instructions of funders acting in possession.

My Department does not hold specific information in relation to the list of developments where there may be difficulties with public lighting, this being a matter for the local authorities concerned and subject to constant change as the planning enforcement, taking in charge and unfinished housing development, (UHD) processes are implemented by local authorities. However, my Department is preparing a circular letter to issue to local authorities outlining a uniform approach to be taken by authorities with regard to public lighting in unfinished housing developments.

I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on UHDs to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on UHDs, together with the Government’s response to the recommendations. My Department launched the Public Safety Initiative (PSI) in March 2011, which provided funding to address immediate public safety issues. The types of works that have been approved to date under the PSI include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. Under the PSI, my Department has made allocations totalling €4.5m to local authorities from the funding made available. To date, €3.3m has been drawn down. My Department issued a circular to Local Authorities on 14 May advising that the deadline for drawing down PSI funding is 30 November 2014. The Public Safety Initiative provides funding only in instances where a developer has abandoned the development. However, in circumstances where the developer is merely inactive the responsibility for the maintenance and resolution of issues surrounding the development are matters which need to be addressed between the developer and the relevant stakeholders, and my Department has no remit in this regard.

Budget 2014 contained a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF), to assist further in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments. The SRF is designed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not likely to be resolved in the normal way through solely developer/owner/funder action because of the presence of specific financial barriers. It is envisaged that the SRF should be particularly targeted to address the remaining unfinished developments with residents living in them and, in particular, any developments that local authorities identified, for the purposes of the Local Property Tax waiver, as in a seriously problematic condition.

In December 2013, my Department wrote to local authorities seeking proposals for funding support under the SRF and the deadline for receipt of applications was 28 February 2014. All submissions have now been evaluated by my Department in accordance with the criteria that have been circulated to the local authorities. On 2 May 2014, I announced the allocations from the €10m Special Resolution Fund to 86 housing developments across the country. This public investment will leverage an additional €12m from third parties (developers/lenders/bonds) which will be invested in these estates. It is hoped that the SRF will enable very substantial progress to be made in resolving as many of the remaining unfinished developments as possible.

Regular meetings are held between my Department and local authorities under the auspices of the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments. However, the management of issues relating to unfinished housing developments remains a matter for the individual local authority involved. Each local authority has appointed an Unfinished Housing Development Co-ordinator; contact details can be found on the Housing Agency's website: http://www.housing.ie/Our-Services/Unfinished-Housing-Developments/Local-Authority-Contacts.

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