Written Answers Nos. 255 - 266
255. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average waiting time for social housing per local authority; if he will provide a table showing actual numbers on housing waiting lists in each local authority in each year from 2000 to date in 2014, including family size in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38795/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest summary of social housing assessments carried out as at 7 May 2013 provides data on the number of households on local authority waiting lists at that date across a range of categories broken down by authority, including the composition of qualified households and the length of time on waiting lists. The 2013 results are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.
The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date figures available on waiting list numbers, which are subject to ongoing 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 was the first to be carried out under the 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations.
The results of the previous assessments carried out in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011 are available on my Department’s website at the links below and contain the information sought other than information on waiting list times in 1999 which was not reported at the time. The 2011 Housing Needs Assessment report provides, at Table A1, the number of households on waiting lists by housing authority for each of the seven assessments carried out between 1993 and 2011.
1999 Assessment: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,39160,en.pdf
2002 Assessment: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,39159,en.pdf
2005 Assessment: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,2115,en.pdf
2008 Assessment: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,27868,en.pdf
2011 Assessment: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,27864,en.pdf.
256. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount, in tabular form, that has been drawn down from the special resolution fund for unfinished estates by each local authority in each year of its operation; if he will also indicate the amount that has been spent on unfinished estates to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38796/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 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.
On 2 May 2014, allocations from the Special Resolution Fund were announced and 86 developments were approved for funding. The following link contains a list of all developments approved for SRF funding: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,37940,en.htm.
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.
The SRF drawdown to date is set out in the table.
|
Local Authority |
SRF Funding drawn down in 2014 to date € |
|
Carlow County Council |
0.00 |
|
Cavan County Council |
0.00 |
|
Clare County Council |
184,457.50 |
|
Cork City Council |
0.00 |
|
Cork County Council |
0.00 |
|
Donegal County Council |
425,551.00 |
|
Dublin City Council |
0.00 |
|
Fingal County Council |
0.00 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
0.00 |
|
D.L.R. County Council |
0.00 |
|
Galway City Council |
125,000.00 |
|
Galway County Council |
196,345.00 |
|
Kerry County Council |
26,105.00 |
|
Kildare County Council |
0.00 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
0.00 |
|
Laois County Council |
183,629.98 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
0.00 |
|
Limerick |
86,749.00 |
|
Longford County Council |
422,036.00 |
|
Louth County Council |
82,500.00 |
|
Mayo County Council |
122,863.65 |
|
Meath County Council |
187,500.00 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
101,691.00 |
|
Offaly County Council |
160,240.00 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0.00 |
|
Sligo County Council |
71,250.00 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
120,828.00 |
|
Waterford County Council |
0.00 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
90,757.50 |
|
Wexford County Council |
163,499.09 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
21,500.00 |
|
Total |
2,772,502.72 |
My Department launched the Public Safety Initiative (PSI) in March 2011, which provided funding to address immediate public safety issues in unfinished housing developments. The types of works that have been approved 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. To date, €3.39m has been drawn down under the PSI.
My Department issued a circular to Local Authorities on 14 May 2014 advising that the deadline for drawing down PSI funding is 30 November 2014.
257. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the guidelines for usage of the pathway accommodation and support system to record homelessness; if risk of homelessness is quantified or measured in any way by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38805/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2009 National Implementation Plan for the Homeless Strategy provides for the development and implementation of a single integrated national data information system on the use of homeless services. The usage of the Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS) by homeless service providers has been established by housing authorities as a criteria for the provision of State funding on homelessness. Dublin City Council provides PASS as a national shared service, whereby statutory and non-governmental homelessness service providers throughout the country can avail of the software package without the requirement for costly individual support and licence arrangements and with Dublin City Council providing user support. PASS records the details of homeless services that are funded through housing authorities under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 and whereby the individuals using such services are defined as homeless under Section 2 of that Act.
Data on the risk of homelessness is not recorded on PASS. However, within the overall approach to addressing homelessness, particular attention is paid to homelessness prevention, including in relation to specific vulnerable groups at risk of becoming homeless.
258. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that collection of data for homelessness is not comprehensive as it does not count the number of homeless families sharing accommodation with their families; the interim measures he plans to utilise to gather this data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38806/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraData on homeless households in emergency accommodation is provided through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS).
Households that are qualified for social housing support are recorded by housing authorities through social housing assessments. When assessing the housing need of an applicant household for social housing support, each housing authority records, among other information, details on the household’s current tenure such as whether they are living with parents, relatives/friends or homeless. This information is reflected in the statutory summary of Social Housing Assessments which provides details of the number of households qualified for social housing support and on housing authority waiting lists. The latest summary was carried out at 7 May 2013, in accordance with Section 21 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and the results are available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.
259. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the numbers of homeless individuals and families recorded on the pathway accommodation and support system in each quarter in each local authority where it has been active since it came into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38814/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTraditionally it has been difficult to quantify the number of homeless persons on an ongoing basis; this is in part a consequence of the volatility within this cohort of housing need. In February 2013, at the time of publication of the Government’s Homelessness Policy Statement, a set of indicators was identified to be used to demonstrate the dynamics of homelessness as it is addressed. These indicators will give a clearer picture of homelessness in Ireland and, in quantifying its ongoing extent, will support the implementation of realistic and practical solutions. The Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS) is now operational nationwide and will assist lead housing authorities in each of the 9 regions to report on these indicators. 2014 will be the first year for which PASS will produce composite national data on homelessness. Quarterly reports from lead housing authorities are being published on my Department's website as soon as these are available. Lead housing authorities are also providing monthly reports on homelessness which identify the number of people utilising State-funded emergency accommodation on a regional and county basis. These monthly reports also provide details of the breakdown of the individuals and the numbers of families and dependents that are in emergency accommodation. Both the quarterly and monthly reports are available on my Department’s website at, http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.
260. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of funding provided and the number of persons engaged per annum in 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014, in the senior alert scheme. [38818/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages 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.
The tabular information requested in regard to a county breakdown of funding provided in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 is available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Community/SeniorsAlert/FileDownLoad,26536,en.xls.
The information requested regarding the number of persons engaged per annum in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014, in the senior alert scheme is not available in my Department but the number of Groups involved and the number of beneficiaries are outlined in the tabular statement below and are also available on my Department’s website.
|
Year |
Allocation |
Groups |
Beneficiaries |
|
2010 |
€3.10m |
585 |
7,817 |
|
2011 |
€2.35m |
422 |
7,910 |
|
2012 |
€2.35m |
498 |
9,142 |
|
2013 |
€2.35m |
511 |
10,597 |
|
2014 |
€2.35m |
463 (to 30 September 2014) |
4,731 (to 30 September 2014) |
261. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of temporary contracts in place for the public sector as a whole, including State agencies and other public bodies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38828/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in the local authority sector and in the State agencies under my Department’s remit. The most recent quarterly data on the numbers of temporary contract staff collected at the end of June 2014 on a whole time equivalent basis (WTE), was 1,320.91 WTE (local authority sector) and 19.5 WTE ( State agencies). My Department has two officers engaged on temporary contracts and arrangements are currently being finalised in relation to contract appointments in my office and the office of my colleague, Minister of State Coffey, under the normal arrangements for the staffing of such officers.
262. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of contracts of indefinite duration that have been sought and the number that have been granted in the years 2007 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014 in the public sector under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38839/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department first collected information in relation to the numbers of staff entitled to contracts of indefinite duration in local authorities in 2008. The table sets out the information on a cumulative and a whole time equivalent basis (wte) and includes the most recent data available for 2014. The number of staff who sought contracts of indefinite duration is not collected by my Department.
|
Local Authority Sector |
Total WTE |
|
December 2008 |
184.3 |
|
December 2009 |
357.48 |
|
December 2010 |
447.2 |
|
December 2011 |
584.51 |
|
December 2012 |
721.33 |
|
December 2013 |
785.26 |
|
June 2014 |
876.58 |
There is one staff member with a contract of indefinite duration in my Department since September 2012.
The information requested in respect of State agencies is not collected by my Department.
263. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to address the issue of lack of adequate broadband services in many parts of County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38628/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment and the development of a State-led intervention for non-commercial areas.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department to identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list of areas has already been identified and includes 78 areas in County Donegal. I am also aware of extensive rollout of high speed broadband services in County Donegal by at least one commercial operator.
As part of the mapping process, an initial stakeholder consultation on certain technical aspects of the proposed Plan was launched in June with a deadline of 15th September last. 31 submissions were received as part of this process and non-commercially sensitive versions of these responses will be published by my Department over the coming weeks.
I expect to publish the maps for public consultation later this year. These will include details of the areas requiring State intervention. The maps will be dynamic and will be subject to change if new commercial investments are announced in the future.
A further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy will be launched in mid-2015.
EU State Aid clearance will be required for the State intervention. My Department will be working closely with the European Commission on this important aspect of the programme.
Finally, a detailed procurement process will have to be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder(s) prior to commencing the roll out of high speed broadband services.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and for my Department. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in a sustainable and meaningful way. Our goal is to ensure that quality broadband services are available to all citizens regardless of where they are located.
264. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the poor standard and quality of broadband in many areas throughout the country; the action he will take to address the situation in pockets of County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38799/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment and the development of a State-led intervention for non-commercial areas.
Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department to identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list of areas has already identified and includes 108 areas in County Cork. I am also aware of extensive rollout of high speed broadband services in County Cork by at least one commercial operator.
As part of the mapping process, an initial stakeholder consultation on certain technical aspects of the proposed Plan was launched in June with a deadline of 15th September last. 31 submissions were received as part of this process and non-commercially sensitive versions of these responses will be published by my Department over the coming weeks.
I expect to publish the maps for public consultation later this year. These will include details of the areas requiring State intervention. The maps will be dynamic and will be subject to change if new commercial investments are announced in the future.
A further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy will be launched in mid-2015.
EU State Aid clearance will be required for the State intervention. My Department will be working closely with the European Commission on this important aspect of the programme.
Finally, a detailed procurement process will have to be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder(s) prior to commencing the roll out of high speed broadband services.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and for my Department. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in a sustainable and meaningful way. Our goal is to ensure that quality broadband services are available to all citizens regardless of where they are located.
265. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of temporary contracts in place for the public sector as a whole, including State agencies and other public bodies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38825/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information the Deputy has sought regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
266. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of contracts of indefinite duration that have been sought and the number that have been granted in the years 2007 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014 in the public sector under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38836/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
