Tuesday, 1 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos. 321-340

Irish Water Appointments

Ceisteanna (321)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Ceist:

321. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review a tender bid by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of existing contractors to local authorities who have been re-employed by Irish Water; and if he will provide a breakdown of new contractors winning the bid for the provision of services with the setting up of Irish Water. [28175/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. This includes responsibility for the procurement of services. I will ask Irish Water to contact the Deputy directly to discuss this matter.

Question No. 322 answered with Question No. 295.

Local Authority Staff

Ceisteanna (323)

James Bannon

Ceist:

323. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the current situation for science qualified staff working in local authorities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28200/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is empowered to declare appropriate qualifications for a specified employment under a local authority or for such of the employments as belong to a specified class, description or grade. These qualifications are known as national qualifications and are declared following consultation with all key stakeholders. Where qualifications have not been declared for a particular post, the above-mentioned legislation also enables a local authority, with my consent, to fix the qualifications for any employment as necessary. Members of staff may apply to enter a confined or open competition for any post where they meet the required qualifications as declared. My Department currently is not in receipt of a request to review or declare new qualifications for any science-related posts.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive Officer is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. When vacancies arise public bodies must reallocate or reorganise work or staff accordingly. Any exceptions to this principle, which will arise in very limited circumstances only, require prior sanction. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services and economic issues are given precedence as is the requirement to avoid increases in overall staffing levels.

Voluntary Housing Sector

Ceisteanna (324)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

324. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Clúid Housing Association and other approved housing bodies have engaged with Limerick City and County Council and the office of regeneration regarding a proposal to both build and retrofit and upgrade housing stock in Limerick city; when he will respond to these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28215/14]

Freagraí scríofa

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

Under the EU Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020, support will be provided under the European Regional Development Fund for a number of investment priorities within the thematic objectives set out in the relevant EU Regulation. Investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including social housing, through the thematic objective of supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy, is among the eligible measures for ERDF co-funding under the Regional Operational Programmes 2014-2020.

My Department has submitted a proposal costing €100 million under the South and East Operational Programme 2014-2020 for the deep retrofitting of 2,000 older apartments and flats, of which 1,500 are in Dublin, 300 in Cork and 200 in Limerick. It is proposed that 50% of the cost would be met by way of loan finance from the European Investment Bank to a number of Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s) who would undertake the retrofitting works and manage and maintain the properties on behalf of the local authorities. The balance of the funding would be met by way of a 25% capital contribution by the Exchequer and a 25% grant from the ERDF.

It is intended that a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), representative of the participating local authorities and AHB’s, the Housing Finance Agency and my own Department, will be established to manage the investment programme and oversee its implementation. However, the setting up of the SPV and the determination of appropriate governance and administrative arrangements, as well as consideration of further proposals of this nature, is contingent on the outcome of this proposal.

My Department is working closely with the Office of Regeneration, Limerick City and County Council and the Irish Council for Social Housing with a view to progressing proposals for the active involvement of the Approved Housing Bodies in the retrofitting and construction of replacement housing in the Limerick regeneration areas. Outside of these arrangements, I understand that service level agreements are currently being negotiated between the Council and Clúid Housing Association with regard to the future management and maintenance of some recently completed housing projects.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Ceisteanna (325)

John Halligan

Ceist:

325. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 382 of 11 February 2014, in strengthening the powers given to local authorities to deal with instances of anti-social behaviour the way this will impact on the day-to-day administration within housing offices across the country; his views on how effective or ineffective current measures are; the powers that will be given to the local authorities; the estimated time frame for the delivery of these strengthened powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28271/14]

Freagraí scríofa

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

Housing authorities have substantial powers under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2014 to manage their housing stock, including countering anti-social behaviour, including the power to seek a court order excluding a person engaged in anti-social behaviour from entering a local authority dwelling or estate for a period of up to 3 years. A housing authority is also empowered to refuse to allocate, or to refuse to sell, a dwelling to such a person. At the policy level, every housing authority has a statutory duty to adopt and review an anti-social behaviour strategy for the prevention and reduction of anti-social behaviour in its housing stock, which must provide for co-operation with other relevant bodies, notably An Garda Síochána.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 currently progressing through the Oireachtas includes a revised procedure to replace section 62 of the Housing Act 1966, enabling housing authorities to recover possession of their dwellings from households in serious breach of their tenancy agreements, including because of engaging in anti-social behaviour. This will bring legislation in this regard into line with the European Convention on Human Rights Act, and in that context provide a fairer and more transparent procedure in respect of possessions providing appropriate safeguards for tenants, that were not there previously, where there is a dispute as to the facts of the case. The Bill also includes provisions that will strengthen the powers of housing authorities in relation to excluding orders and in this regard will extend the current prohibition to cover a specified place or area where there is at least one local authority house.

I anticipate that the Bill will be enacted by the summer recess and believe that the provisions will allow for an improved mechanism that will serve the interests of both tenants and local authorities, while meeting the highest standards of the human and civil rights of all concerned.

Traveller Community

Ceisteanna (326, 339)

John Halligan

Ceist:

326. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 689 of 25 March 2014, if he will ring-fence Traveller funds to ensure they will be used to fund Traveller projects; if he will confirm the NTP will be able to draw down this money for local Traveller organisations; his views that without local Traveller-led projects Travellers will be further marginalised; if he will acknowledge that it is vital that the community development work which has taken place of the last number of years is not lost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28272/14]

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

339. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to the newly announced social inclusion community activation programme, acknowledging that groups and organisations will in the future have to competitively tender locally to deliver work under SICAP, and that the National Collective of Community Based Women’s Networks, which has a budget of €1.3 million, with 17 projects that engage 36,589 women, and an organisation which is and always has been volunteer managed and led is facing discontinued work with women from disadvantaged communities and extreme losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28405/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 339 together.

The proposals outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government seek to position local government “as the primary vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and local communities effectively and accountably”.

As part of the programme of reform of local government, Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) are being established in all local authority areas. These Committees, comprising public-private socio-economic interests, will have responsibility for local and community development programmes on an area basis, including the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). They will develop, co-ordinate and implement a more coherent and integrated approach to local and community development than heretofore, with the aim of reducing duplication and overlap and optimising the use of available resources for the benefit of citizens and communities.

SICAP is one of my key priorities and its budget for next year will be decided in the 2015 Estimates process. In accordance with the Public Spending Code, best practice internationally, legal advice and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of the services to clients, the Programme will be subject to a public procurement process, which is currently underway. The SICAP aim is to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration. I am confident that supports for the most disadvantaged in our society, such as Travellers and disadvantaged women, will continue under SICAP.

Water Services Provision

Ceisteanna (327)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

327. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress he is making regarding solving the water shortage problem in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28285/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Since 1st January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has recently published its Proposed Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 and this is available on the Irish Water website, www.water.ie. The further progression of all water services capital projects is now a matter for Irish Water to consider. Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via an email to [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 278 278.

Question No. 328 answered with Question No. 313.

Question No. 329 answered with Question No. 301.

Seniors Alert Scheme

Ceisteanna (330)

Jim Daly

Ceist:

330. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding avenues available for elderly persons who require a personal alarm monitor, for persons who have had to discontinue a landline telephone service subsequent to the subsidy being discontinued in the latest budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28309/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. Personal monitored alarms are now available using mobile technology and these alternative systems may also be funded at a similar rate when the sponsoring Community Group is satisfied that it meets the requirements of the beneficiary. It will be a matter for the sponsoring Community Group to satisfy itself that a system using mobile technology provides reliable coverage in its area. Mobile type devices currently on offer do not provide full mobile phone functionality and therefore are not a replacement for a telephone.

Register of Electors

Ceisteanna (331)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

331. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reform the voter registration process to facilitate online registration and the creation of an electoral commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28321/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. There are no plans for the introduction of online registration to replace the existing arrangements. The Government is committed to the establishment of an Electoral Commission to subsume some of the functions of existing bodies and my Department, including provisions in respect of the electoral register. Matters associated with the registration process, including recommendations for change to the legislative provisions or to the arrangements for voter registration, would be appropriate for consideration by the Electoral Commission.

Housing Issues

Ceisteanna (332)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

332. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to support students in accessing affordable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28327/14]

Freagraí scríofa

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

I presume that the question is referring primarily to the shortage of suitable, affordable, rental accommodation for students and young professionals, particularly in some urban centres. The most recent data from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) Rent Index and from the Daft.ie Rental Report show the extent of rising rents, particularly in Dublin and the major cities. In Dublin, rents for houses increased by 6.7% annually, and for apartments the figure was 10.3%. The fundamental reason behind the rise in rents is a lack of supply. In 2006, some 93,419 housing units were completed across the country, 19,470 of them in Dublin. In 2013, a total of 8,301 homes were completed nationally, with just 1,360 in Dublin. The volume of activity in residential building and construction remains less than half of the volume seen in the year 2000.

Increasing both public and private housing supply is a critical issue and the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy, published on 14 May 2014, is a blueprint for a properly functioning and sustainable construction sector. It provides for a strategic approach to the provision of housing based on real and measured demand and addresses the full range of relevant issues including the planning process, financing, access to mortgage finance and the construction workforce. Resolution of the housing supply situation is the key element in restoring stability to the market but I recognise that the provision of additional units of housing takes time. Consequently, I have asked the Private Residential Tenancies Board to carry out a focused piece of research that will explore options to address the difficulties being experienced in segments of the private rented sector due to rising rents and to report back to me with policy recommendations before the end of June. My goal is to achieve stability and sustainability in the market for the benefit of tenants, landlords and society as a whole.

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (333)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

333. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reintroduce the tenant purchase scheme to allow tenants in rented local authority houses to purchase their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28354/14]

Freagraí scríofa

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

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014, which has passed all stages in the Dáil , and for which Second Stage will be taken in the Seanad today, will, among other things, underpin a new tenant purchase scheme to replace the 1995 scheme for existing local authority houses, which closed for new applications at the end of 2012. The new scheme will be broadly similar to the two incremental purchase schemes currently in operation, relating to newly built local authority houses and local authority apartments respectively. I expect that the Bill will be enacted by the summer, following which I will prescribe the commencement date and the detailed terms of the scheme.

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (334)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

334. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any discussions have been held with the Department of Finance regarding extending the home renovation tax incentive to the private rented sector for landlords who commit to accepting rent supplement or housing assistance payment tenants for a period, the tax incentive being only available if tenants are retained for a specific period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28380/14]

Freagraí scríofa

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

The operation of the rent supplement scheme is entirely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. While my Department continues to discuss legal and policy matters in relation to the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme with the Revenue Commissioners, there have been no discussions to date with the Department of Finance in respect of the home renovation tax incentive and the HAP.

Housing Issues

Ceisteanna (335, 336)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

335. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any plans to resource and roll out a new national house condition survey, in particular with respect to energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28381/14]

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

336. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the efforts being made to tackle energy inefficiency in the private rented sector; his plans to ensure properties for rent meet minimum BER levels; if there are any plans to consider such a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28382/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together.

In the context of Construction 2020 - A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector (May 2014) the Government has committed to a number of measures in the area of investment in energy efficiency and sustainability. In this regard it is intended that my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, will establish a working group and invite public comment on the feasibility and impact of setting minimum energy performance standards in properties offered for letting in the residential sector.

The 2009 House Condition Survey included a focus on the energy efficiency of dwellings which has informed a number of policy measures across Government designed to tackle energy performance standards in Ireland’s national housing stock. These include actions that have been delivered or will be undertaken to ensure that Ireland fulfils its National Zero Energy Building Plan for dwellings by 2020 as required under Directive 31/2010/EU on the energy performance of buildings. Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment and certification is now well established as a mandatory requirement when a new dwelling is commissioned and when an existing dwelling is offered for sale or letting. This largely supersedes the need for a further survey on energy performance along the lines suggested.

Wind Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (337)

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

337. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress being made on the planning legislation for wind turbines; the setback distance being proposed from people's residences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28397/14]

Freagraí scríofa

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

I commenced a public consultation in December of last year on proposed “draft” revisions to the existing 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines focussing specifically on the issues of noise, setbacks and shadow flicker. These draft revisions propose:

- The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,

- A mandatory minimum setback of 500 m between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and

- The complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.

My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during the public consultation period and the submissions – which are currently being considered - will be an important input into the final version of the guidelines, which will be issued to planning authorities. Further work is advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the Wind Guidelines.

The proposed draft revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Act. It is intended that the revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised later in the year.

Wind Energy Guidelines

Ceisteanna (338)

Helen McEntee

Ceist:

338. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any planning application lodged under the current wind energy guidelines will be subject to new guidelines should they be published before the application has been approved or denied (details supplied). [28398/14]

Freagraí scríofa

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

I am precluded under statute from commenting on any particular planning case with which a planning authority may be concerned. The proposed draft revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.

Question No. 339 answered with Question No. 326.

Question No. 340 answered with Question No. 299.