Written Answers Nos. 965-981
965. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the purpose motor tax receipts will now be put following the creation of Irish Water and the commencement of domestic charging. [41372/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncome from Motor Tax currently accrues to the Local Government Fund. The Fund has historically provided local authorities with finance for funding some of their day-to-day activities, including elements of water services costs, through General Purpose Grant allocations; for non-national roads; and funding for certain local government initiatives. As a result of the introduction of Local Property Tax in 2013 and the establishment of Irish Water, the local government funding model has changed considerably in 2014 . The funding to be provided to local authorities for the provision of water services in 2014 is governed by Service Level Agreements between Irish Water and individual authorities and therefore the authorities are no longer in receipt of funding for water services costs directly from the Local Government Fund . At the same time, in accordance with the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing this year, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year. The following table shows the change in Local Government Fund income and expenditure from 2013 to 2014.
Income
|
€m |
2013 |
*2014 |
|
Motor Tax (net) |
1,135.50 |
1,160.00 |
|
Exchequer Contribution |
0 |
0 |
|
Household Charge |
23.1 |
0 |
|
Local Property Tax |
0 |
550 |
|
Interest |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
Total |
1,158.80 |
1,710.20 |
*Estimate for 2014
Expenditure
|
€m |
2013 |
*2014 |
|
General Purpose Grants |
640.9 |
282 |
|
Road and Public Transport Payments |
408 |
363.9 |
|
Payment to Exchequer |
100 |
600 |
|
Irish Water Subvention |
0 |
486.5 |
|
Other Miscellaneous |
58.4 |
46.5 |
|
Total |
1,207.30 |
1,778.90 |
*Estimate for 2014
Decisions in relation to Local Government Fund income and expenditure for 2015 will be finalised as part of the Revised Estimates Volume process.
966. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the process required in order to issue boil notices or water restriction notices in relation to the supply of drinking water. [41416/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water, including Irish Water, are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority with responsibility for monitoring Irish Water’s compliance with the Regulations. The procedures to be followed where there is non-compliance with parameter values are clearly laid out in the Regulations.
In the event of non-compliance with the quality standards set out in the Regulations, the water supplier is required to investigate the cause in consultation with the EPA and, if a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive (HSE), to ensure that the appropriate remedial action is taken. This may include that the supply of water is prohibit ed, or the use of the water is restricted as is necessary to protect human health. In such circumstances, the water supplier is required to promptly inform consumers regarding the issue and to provide consumers with the appropriate advice.
967. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his response to each of the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention concerning Dáil electoral reform, the subject of its fourth report; and when the Dáil will debate these recommendations. [41652/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra968. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his response to each of the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention concerning extending the right to vote to citizens resident outside the State; and when the Dáil will debate these recommendations. [41653/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 967 and 968 together.
The Government has already responded to the recommendation in the Fourth Report of the Convention on the Constitution for the establishment of an Electoral Commission. The preparatory work on this task has commenced in my Department and the Government Legislation Programme provides for the publication of an Electoral Commission Bill in 2015.
The Government expects to respond to the remaining recommendations on the Dáil electoral system contained in the Fourth Report and to the recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on giving citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections before the end of the current Dáil session.
969. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that firemen are entitled to a gratuity payment and not a pension, the reason a pension levy has been deducted from their earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41731/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 states that any public servant who is a member of a public service pension scheme, is entitled to a benefit under such a scheme, or receives a payment in lieu of membership in such a scheme, is subject to a deduction from their remuneration.
In 2008, retained firefighters were given the option of joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS). Retained firefighters who opted not to join the scheme receive, on retirement, a gratuity of 1/8 th of the annual retainer multiplied by the number of years of actual service (up to a maximum of four times the annual retainer). This is a payment in lieu of membership of a pension scheme, and as such retained firefighters are subject to the deduction outlined in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009.
970. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures which will be put in place to ensure that the shared services plans are operating across the public service including in the local government sector when there is no collection of redeployment data below grade 7 between local authorities; the level of co-ordination in terms of staff required in a new area where there is shared service being provided and other local authorities do not agree to let staff redeploy to those areas in view of the fact that this information is not even collected by the Department to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42070/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra971. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that there is no mechanism in place to collect data on the redeployment of staff between local authorities in the Local Government sector for posts up to and including grade 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42106/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 970 and 971 together.
The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible , including where shared services is concerned. In this regard, it is a matter for Chief Executives, in the first instance, to ensure that the moratorium is implemented while the appropriate service levels are maintained.
My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests, public safety, maintaining key front line services, shared services and economic issues are given precedence.
Posts up to and including Grade 7 may be filled from within the local authority sector in accordance with the Redeployment Scheme. Only employees declared as a surplus are releasable under the terms of the scheme. Each local authority manages the redeployment process for the filling of their vacancies.
The Redeployment scheme equally applies to sanctioned vacancies for the shared services projects and this process is managed by the lead authority responsible for the shared service.
972. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if motor tax services can be introduced across the post office network as it would make the service more widely available and accessible nationwide, help protect the post office network and ensure it stays at the heart of the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42145/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder existing arrangements, motor tax is payable in person or by post via motor tax offices in twenty six local authorities. It is also payable online at any time, with some 62% of vehicle owners who are eligible to do so now taxing their vehicles online. I have no plans currently to provide for the collection of motor tax through the post office network. The operation of the motor tax system is, of course, kept under regular review.
973. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a new house purchase scheme for local authority houses at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42286/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1035. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding future tenant purchase schemes; the way current renters would be encouraged to purchase local authority houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41614/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1042. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to put in place a new tenant purchase scheme for local authority houses; if he will confirm if and when this is likely to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41769/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 973, 1035 and 1042 together.
Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses. The scheme will operate along the incremental purchase model currently being applied in purchase schemes for local authority apartments and new local authority houses under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which involve discounts for purchasers linked to household income and a discount-related charge on the property that withers away over a period unless the house is resold or the purchaser fails to comply with conditions of the sale.
I intend to make the necessary statutory instruments in the coming months to enable the new scheme to come into operation.
974. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the scheme to support national organisations; the moneys that have been paid out to national volunteer organisations under the scheme since July 2014; if he will list the organisations that have been issued moneys under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40912/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. A new round of funding commenced on 1 July 2014, to run for a period of 24 months. Pobal is managing the scheme on behalf of my Department , given that organisation's significant experience and expertise operating such schemes.
55 organisations were approved for funding under the new scheme. One of these organisations subsequently entered liquidation and closed down.
Of the 54 remaining organisations, 21 have received funding to date under the Scheme. These are listed in Table 1 below. The remaining 33 organisations are at various stages of agreeing contracts with Pobal.
Table 1: SSNO 2014-2016 payments made to date.
|
Organisation |
Amount Paid € |
|
Active Retirement Network Ireland |
21,778 |
|
Caring For Carers Ireland Limited |
36,318 |
|
Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups |
28,044 |
|
Cherish Limited t/a One Family Limited |
35,192 |
|
Community Creations Limited |
26,075 |
|
Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency |
34,073 |
|
Down Syndrome Ireland |
32,710 |
|
European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland Limited |
31,171 |
|
The Irish Association of Supported Employment |
36,000 |
|
Irish Council for Social Housing |
9,916 |
|
Irish Foster Care Association Limited |
23,336 |
|
I.N.O.U Limited |
28,192 |
|
The Men's Development Network Limited |
33,075 |
|
Mental Health Reform |
34,288 |
|
National Collective of Community-Based Womens ’ Networks |
32,024 |
|
National Youth Council of Ireland Limited |
30,689 |
|
Partners in Mission Limited |
30,265 |
|
The Rape Crisis Network Ireland Limited |
31,221 |
|
Social Analysis and Action for Justice Ireland |
27,227 |
|
Special Olympics Ireland |
35,192 |
|
Women’s Aid Limited |
31,583 |
|
Total paid to 31 October 2014 |
628,369 |
I announced, on 18 July 2014, the allocation of bridging funding of €1.4m to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations for a twelve month period, which were not successful under the new round of funding under the SSNO. This bridging funding in 2014/2015 is a once-off transitional arrangement and will enable organisations to plan for their future, whether with or without State support, such as that provided under the SSNO. The payments made to date under this arrangement are listed in Table 2 below.
Table 2: Bridging funding payments made to date.
|
Organisation |
Amount Paid € |
|
Arthritis Ireland |
17,961 |
|
Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland Ltd |
13,816 |
|
Asthma Society of Ireland |
13,816 |
|
Breaking Through Limited |
19,343 |
|
Chronic Pain Ireland Limited |
12,435 |
|
Dyslexia Association of Ireland |
20,724 |
|
Genetic and Inherited Disorders Organisation Ltd |
5,527 |
|
GROW in Ireland |
5,527 |
|
Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland Limited |
6,355 |
|
Irish Deaf Society The National Association of the Deaf Limited |
20,724 |
|
Irish Heart Foundation |
13,816 |
|
Irish Mountain Rescue Association |
19,343 |
|
Irish National Council of Attention Deficit Disorder Support (INCADDS) |
11,053 |
|
Irish Stammering Association |
8,289 |
|
Migraine Association of Ireland Ltd |
9,671 |
|
Motor Neuron disease Association |
8,289 |
|
MOVE Ireland |
13,816 |
|
Muintir na Tíre |
23,487 |
|
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland |
12,435 |
|
National Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland Limited |
12,435 |
|
National Association for Youth Drama Ltd |
9,671 |
|
New Communities Partnership (NCP) Ltd |
24,869 |
|
Peter Bradley Foundation Limited |
13,816 |
|
Post Polio Support Group Limited |
8,289 |
|
Safe Ireland |
24,869 |
|
Show Racism The Red Card Limited |
9,671 |
|
Suas Educational Development |
12,435 |
|
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland |
20,724 |
|
The Carers Association Limited |
20,724 |
|
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland |
16,579 |
|
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland |
16,579 |
|
The Union of Voluntary Organisations of People with Disabilities |
15,197 |
|
Total paid to 31 October 2014 |
462,285 |
975. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements he has put in place to provide interim funding to Leader local action groups including Cavan-Monaghan Leader, whose Leader administration funding (details supplied) will be exhausted by 31 December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40923/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs detailed in the EU regulatory framework, a maximum of 20% of the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 can be spent on administration by the Local Action Group contracted to deliver the Programme in their area. It should be noted that the funding amount available did change during the programme period. All Local Action Groups were fully informed of the changes and were expected to amend their operating costs accordingly in order to ensure sufficient budgetary resources to support the operation of the RDP to completion. Cavan Monaghan LEADER has been paid almost €2 million in administration funding since mid-2009.
There is no facility within the EU regulatory framework to provide interim funding and I have no plans to provide interim administration funding for any company between the closure of the current 2007-2013 Programme and the commencement of the 2014-2020 Programme.
976. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the assistance available to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 13 to complete their Irish Water application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40929/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish Water has informed my Department that it offers customers a choice of validating their details and claiming their allowances either by telephone, web or post. The Irish water contact centre has handled a number of calls from customers who required assistance with completing the form.
In these instances , the contact centre has updated the customers’ details to ensure allowances can be claimed if the customer prefers not to return the postal form. It is entirely the customer’s choice of how to validate their details and Irish Water will support the customer in completing the form through whatever method they are most comfortable to use.
977. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that will be taken by Irish Water to ensure that customer data sent by the company outside the European Economic Area will comply with legislation of that jurisdiction. [40973/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra978. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if customer data sent outside the European Economic Area by Irish Water will have the standard of protection that would be expected of data held here. [40974/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra989. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Irish Water customers who refuse to give details to Irish Water of their PPS number and so on; if their water will be cut off or reduced to a trickle. [41058/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1002. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the statutory provision that empowers Irish Water to request customers' personal public service numbers. [41232/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1012. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reverse the requirement for customers to give their personal public service numbers to Irish Water; and if he will instruct Irish Water to delete all records of PPS numbers already received. [41351/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1022. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the retention of PPS numbers by Irish Water (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41491/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1028. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that have been taken by him and Irish Water to ensure the security of customers' personal data, especially the unauthorised release of data to third parties. [41581/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1029. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that have been put in place to ensure that PPS numbers obtained by Irish Water will not be shared with any third parties. [41582/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1040. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reasons PPS numbers are required for payment of water charges; if PPS numbers are protected under data protection legislation; if he is satisfied that PPS numbers will not be used by any third party; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41635/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1043. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the State bodies and agencies with which Irish Water will share customer information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41775/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1054. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 574 of 21 October 2014, if he will indicate if personal public service numbers constitute part of the asset base of Irish Water. [41948/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 977, 978, 989, 1002, 1012, 1022, 1028, 1029, 1040, 1043 and 1054 together.
Under the Water Services Acts 2007-2013, Irish Water may request its customers and certain specified persons or bodies, including the Minister for Social Protection, to provide it with information so that it can perform its functions under these Acts. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water is responsible for the provision of water services and that it shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation, the CER, which has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers of Irish Water.
In advance of the introduction of domestic water charges, the Government made certain decisions on 6 May 2014 relating to the structure of water charges including, inter alia, a free allowance per household and an additional free allowance for children on the same qualifying conditions as the Child Benefit payment from the Department of Social Protection.
As these allowances are to be funded by Government, Irish Water needs to ensure it has the appropriate and sufficient information to reflect these entitlements. Irish Water is a specified body under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended by Section 20 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014, and is therefore permitted to request Personal Public Services (PPS) numbers to authenticate the identity of a person being provided with an allowance.
Irish Water will treat applicants’ personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. In complying with these Acts, Irish Water must ensure that the data is only used for the purpose for which it was collected and must also ensure that any data collected is stored securely. The collection of 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 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 at that address. It will also allow Irish Water to provide lower charges to owners who have unoccupied dwellings. I understand that Irish Water and the Department of Social Protection are developing arrangements governing the sharing of PPS information. Any such arrangements will be subject to data protection requirements.
With charges effective from 1 October 2014 Irish Water is in the process of compiling the relevant data to ensure that customers can be billed accurately based on the tariff structure approved by the CER. Irish Water has sent application packs to approximately 2 million households, which refer to the effective charging date and the fact that billing for domestic customers in receipt of public water services will start in January 2015. The application process will enable customers to confirm their details for billing and, by providing the relevant PPS numbers, claim the allowances that they are eligible for.
The CER has made a determination on th e water charges plan submitted to it by Irish Water, which sets out the position if customers do not validate their details. In these circumstances, a default unmetered charge of €424 per annum will apply, which does not include the free allowances. The relevant details of the determination are available on the CER website ( www.cer.ie).
Irish Water has an on - going engagement with the Office of the Data Protection Commission (DPC) and has advised my Department that it has been asked to provide clarity on some aspects of the legal language of its data protection notice as published on its website, www.water.ie. It has confirmed that this notice was, and is, fully compliant with data protection requirements. However, by providing additional clarity, it will re-assure customers that data is held securely, used properly and not shared with third parties, except where some minimal information needs to be provided in the context of the delivery of water services such as contractors repairing leaks. Any advice given to Irish Water from the DPC will be further incorporated into its data protection notice.
Irish Water has confirmed that its systems have undergone extensive independent quality assurance testing. In addition, the DPC has worked closely with Irish Water to agree the process for the capture, storage and usage of customer data. Furthermore, Irish Water has also confirmed that no data will be stored outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) . Irish Water has also confirmed that it w ill not sell any customer data and PPS numbers are not part of the asset base of the company.
There may be limited instances where Irish Water might need to share information with third parties with whom it has service agreements for operational reasons, e.g. ICT support for systems maintenance, and this will be done under full compliance with all data protection requirements.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and is contacting all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 57 8578.
979. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks was excluded from participating in the social inclusion and community activation programme tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41004/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra980. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding the potential job losses in the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks projects across the country due to potential lack of funding; if his attention has been drawn to the problems regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41005/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra981. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that funding of €1.34 million for the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks will be ring-fenced to prevent job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41006/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1009. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks will receive interim funding until the end of March 2015 as stage one of the procurement process will not be complete until then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41315/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra1047. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding for the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41846/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 979 to 981, inclusive, 1009 and 1047 together.
My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281m over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis for 2014 with a budget of €47m pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in April 2015.
The SICAP is one of my key priorities and its overall indicative budget for 2015 has been maintained close to 2014 levels. The Programme’s target groups are:
- Children and Families from Disadvantaged Areas
- Lone Parents
- New Communities (including Refugees/Asylum Seekers)
- People living in Disadvantaged Communities
- People with Disabilities
- Roma
- The Unemployed (including those not on the Live Register)
- Travellers
- Young Unemployed People from Disadvantaged areas
In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice, good practice internationally and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of services to clients, the Programme is subject to a public procurement process, which is currently under way. Stage one (Expression of Interest) has been completed. Stage two (Invitation to Tender), got underway on 20 October and involves the successful applicants from Stage one being invited to apply to one or more Local Community Development Committees, in local authority areas, to deliver the programme. Contracts for SICAP will be determined following the outcome of the procurement process.
The public procurement process is a competitive process that is open to Local Development Companies, other not-for-profit community groups, commercial firms and national organisations that can provide the services to be tendered for to deliver the new Programme. In Stage one, joint applications were encouraged and organisations of varying sizes (for example smaller organisations working in consortia with larger organisations) were invited to submit joint applications. That said, I understand that some small groups, such as the groups under the remit of the NCCWN, faced a number of challenges in competing in the Stage one process. The results of Stage one were released on 24 September 2014 and I can confirm that none of the NCCWN groups expressed an interest either as lead applicants or as part of a consortium.
I am now considering the implications of that for NCCWN and will conclude that consideration as soon as possible. In the meantime, LCDP funding will be provided to NCCWN up to end March 2015.
