Tuesday, 21 Oct 2014

Written Answers Nos. 574-91

Irish Water Remit

Ceisteanna (574)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

574. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if personal public service numbers form part of the asset base of Irish Water. [40189/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

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 shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The collection of Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers allows Irish Water to confirm and validate the entitlement to allowances for each customer. This information will not be shared with any organisation other than the Department of Social Protection and it will be used only for the purpose of verification to ensure that each household receives the allowances it is entitled to, be it the free allowance per household or any additional allowance for children in receipt of Child Benefit at that address.

The Data Protection Commissioner has worked closely with Irish Water to agree the process for the capture, storage and usage of customer data and Irish Water has confirmed that it will not sell any customer data.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 278 278.

Public Procurement Contracts

Ceisteanna (575)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

575. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to tender for the seniors alert scheme and the parameters being considered as part of this tender as to whether it will be for a three-year or five-year period; if it will be one national tender or if it will be done on a regional basis; the requirement to deal with persons who already have alarms fitted under the existing scheme; if they will be included; if this will be open to all organisations to apply even if they are commercial organisations or organisations with a revenue charity reference number; if a regulatory impact assessment has been carried out on this process; the reason Pobal was selected to carry out this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40192/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My 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.

My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and from this it was recommended that the scheme be managed by Pobal with effect from 1 January 2015, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

Pobal will provide management and administrative services for the Seniors Alert Scheme. This will include a national tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. A panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the equipment within specific regional areas. This will reduce the administrative burden for over 500 local community and voluntary groups registered under the Scheme and it will enable the groups to focus their efforts on supporting vulnerable older people in their communities.

Pobal will also set up a panel of pre-qualified tele-care service providers, who provide monitoring services. Use of this panel by beneficiaries will be on a voluntary basis only and beneficiaries will be able to exercise their choice of service provider outside of the panel.

Irish Water Funding

Ceisteanna (576)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

576. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if commercial water rates will remain at the same rate as at present. [40199/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services from the county and city councils to Irish Water, including responsibility for the charging of non-domestic customers. The councils, acting as agents of Irish Water under Service Level Agreements, have continued billing, collections and billing/metering query functions in relation to non-domestic customers. The local authority water tariffs that applied prior to 1 January 2014 still apply to non-domestic customers. The CER has indicated that it will be reviewing all aspects of non-domestic water tariffs under a series of public consultations and it will publish the timeline for this process before the end of 2014.

Question No. 577 answered with Question No. 558.

Irish Water Funding

Ceisteanna (578)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

578. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the purposes for which Irish Water is being granted a further €200 million in 2015; and if he will provide a breakdown of the way in which that money will be spent. [40226/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In May 2014, the Government approved a total provision of €406m in equity to Irish Water in 2015 (€222m) and 2016 (€184m) to support increased investment in the public water services infrastructure. The provision of this funding will allow for capital investment by Irish Water at a rate which is about 33% above existing levels. It will allow for the progression of key water services infrastructural projects including the introduction of a first fix scheme to address customer side leakage that is highlighted through the metering programme.

Leader Programmes Applications

Ceisteanna (579)

James Bannon

Ceist:

579. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a grant application under the old-new Leader funding programme in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Longford; when the new Leader grants will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40257/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The relevant Local Action Group  in respect of the project referred to is Longford Community Resources Limited, whose board has not been disbanded and is the principal decision-maker in relation to the allocation of LEADER funding in that area. I understand that this project was approved by the board of Longford Community Resources subject to additional funding becoming available. However, funding under the LEADER elements of the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme is now fully committed and therefore additional funding will not become available under that programme. I expect, however, that the LEADER elements of the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme will commence during 2015 and there will be potential under that Programme to fund projects where they are identified as a priority in the Local Development Strategy for the area.

Leader Programmes Applications

Ceisteanna (580)

James Bannon

Ceist:

580. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the new Leader grants will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40258/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The draft operational programme for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which includes LEADER, was submitted to the European Commission in July 2014. The approval of the Programme involves an iterative process between Ireland and the European Commission and it is hoped that the Programme will receive final approval before the end of 2014. In anticipation of Commission approval, my Department is progressing plans to undertake a comprehensive capacity building and selection process in order to ensure that the most robust, efficient and effective Local Development Strategies are selected for implementation. In addition, my Department is developing operational procedures and systems in order to ensure full compliance with EU and National rules and regulations. Notwithstanding the level of work to be done in advance of the programme becoming operational I expect that it will begin by mid 2015.

Question No. 581 answered with Question No. 558.

Property Tax Application

Ceisteanna (582)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

582. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities may increase rents to their tenants to contribute to the local property tax for which local authorities are liable. [40316/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Housing authorities are responsible, under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, for determining the rents of their dwellings, subject to complying with broad principles laid down by my Department, notably that the rent payable should be related to income and that low-income households should pay a lower proportion of income in rent. Section 58 of the 1966 Act will be replaced in due course by section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, as amended, which provides for significant harmonisation of differential rent levels nationally, while retaining some discretion for individual authorities in setting rents in their own areas. Both enactments provide for charges in addition to rent in respect of works or services provided under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2014.

It is a matter for housing authorities, in compliance with the relevant legislative requirements, to determine rents taking account of all relevant issues, including the authorities’ obligations in respect of local property tax.

Leader Programmes Expenditure

Ceisteanna (583)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

583. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total project funding spent on Leader projects to date; the amount spent in 2014 on projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40319/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

€233 million has been spent on projects to date under the current LEADER programme, of which €48.9 million has been paid for projects up to the 30 of September during 2014. I expect that the vast majority of outstanding projects will be completed and fully paid during 2014.

Waste Disposal

Ceisteanna (584)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

584. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 5 December 2013, if he will provide an update on his Department's position on the need for regulatory reform of household waste collection; and the outcome of his Department's public consultation on this matter. [40353/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department published a consultation document on the regulation of household waste collection on 28 November 2013 to guide the development of the new regulatory regime to strengthen and improve the regulation of household waste collection. Over 90 submissions were received from organisations across a wide spectrum, including the waste industry, public bodies, public representatives and the public. Taking account of that consultation process and the submissions received, I intend to introduce legislation early next year, to come into effect in July 2015, to significantly reform the regulation of household waste collection, including introducing measures to require collectors to operate the "pay-by-weight" system across all 3 bins as a condition of the permit and to meet certain minimum standards of customer service (for example, specified frequencies of collection). It will also become a statutory requirement for all collectors to have customer charters in place. I will be setting out in law what the minimum content of these customer charters will be, so that standards of service are raised and are consistent.

Irish Water Establishment

Ceisteanna (585)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

585. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, by category and value, the extent of assets which were transferred to Irish Water upon its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40354/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of responsibility for water services delivery from the county and city councils to Irish Water. Section 12 of the Act provides for the transfer of property from a local authority to Irish Water. Section 13 of the Act provides that any rights or liabilities relating to the property transferred to Irish Water under section 12 shall also stand transferred to Irish Water. Section 14 of the Act provides for the transfer of other liabilities from a water services authority to Irish Water by way of Ministerial Order.

To date, two Orders have been made under section 14 - the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (Transfer of Other Liabilities) Order 2014, which was signed on 20 February 2014, and the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (Transfer of Other Liabilities) Order (No. 2) 2014, which was signed on 24 April 2014. The Orders, which are available in the Oireachtas library, provided for the transfer of a total of 970 contracts from the local authorities to Irish Water.

Work is underway to prepare for the transfer of water services property from the local authorities to Irish Water and it is expected that further Orders will be made in this regard in the coming months.

Irish Water Remit

Ceisteanna (586, 587)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

586. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding group water schemes that have their own meters which were supplied by Mayo County Council; if Irish Water is taking over when billing starts; and what happens to the meters that were supplied. [40384/14]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

587. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding group water schemes that have their own metering and own source of water. [40385/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 586 and 587 together.

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 are subject to the approval of the CER. Water charges commenced on 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 are now customers of Irish Water for the bulk supply of such water, having previously been customers of the relevant local authority.

It is important to emphasise that the households on group schemes are customers of the scheme and not of Irish Water.

Group Water Schemes that have their own water sources will not be customers of Irish Water and will continue to operate as before.

Water Charges Administration

Ceisteanna (588)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

588. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to a statement from Irish Water that it is currently developing a mechanism to provide landlords with a means to prove they are not the occupier of a house they have rented out if a tenant is refusing to pay their water charges, the position regarding the liability of landlords in instances where the tenant is refusing to pay water charges and return the completed pack to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40421/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 535, 544 and 566 of 7 October 2014. The position is unchanged.

Tree Remediation

Ceisteanna (589)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

589. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the civil remedies available to individuals whose property is negatively impacted by the size of trees on neighbouring properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40431/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

There is currently a civil remedy available concerning branches or roots of neighbouring trees encroaching on a person's property.

The previous Minister of State for Housing and Planning wrote to the Minister for Justice in June 2012 to explore the possibility of providing a broader civil law remedy for affected parties. In this regard, advice was sought on the possibility of legislative provision being made whereby a person substantially deprived of the enjoyment of their property, such as the deprivation of light caused by high trees on a neighbouring property, could apply to the Courts for an order, and that the Courts could make an order as they see fit, e.g. to cut the trees back to an appropriate height. The Minister for Justice responded in July 2012 suggesting that disputes of this nature between neighbours could perhaps be more appropriately dealt with through mediation rather than through the Courts. I understand that the Department of Justice proposes to publish a Mediation Bill during 2015.

Legislative Measures

Ceisteanna (590)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

590. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on legislating to ensure that properties which are taken into receivership are maintained by the receiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40432/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Legislation in the area of bankruptcy and receivership is outside the remit of my Department and therefore I have no function in this matter.

Irish Water Staff

Ceisteanna (591)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

591. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff employed by Irish Water; and staff costs of Irish Water in 2013, 2014 and estimated in 2015 and 2016. [40464/14]

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.

I understand from data supplied to my Department by Irish Water that 519 staff have been recruited up to 2 October 2014. Of these, 153 have been recruited from local authorities, 88 from Bórd Gáis Éireann (BGE) and 5 from my Department. Irish Water estimate that by the end of 2015 this figure will have risen to 693 staff, which is the final target staffing figure for the enduring Irish Water organisation.

The employment terms and conditions for Irish Water staff are a matter for the company and I understand that these are in line with the arrangements applying within Bórd Gáis Éireann/Ervia.

The following table has been provided by Irish Water which sets out details on staff costs and staff employment levels.

-	2013 Actual	2014 Forecast	2015 Forecast	2016 Forecast
Staff costs of Irish Water	1,276,331	31,000,000	45,000,000	46,000,000
Number of staff employed by Irish Water at 31 December of relevant year	167	600	693	693

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at

[e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 278 278.