Written Answers Nos. 193-200
193. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the need for an extension in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45748/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers is currently completing Stage 2a (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process. On the satisfactory completion of stage 2a, and subject to no other issues arising, the project will progress to Stage 2(b) which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.
Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.
School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which were previously initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in the future.
194. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the need for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45749/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers was approved recently to progress from Stage 2A (Developed Design) to Stage 2b (Detailed Design). Stage 2b includes the applications for planning permission, fire safety certificate, disability access certificate and the preparation of tender documents.
Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.
School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which were previously initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in the future.
195. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if extra housing options are available for those on the housing list who spent time in industrial schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45583/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of whether a household member has spent time in an industrial school is not a factor in the allocation by housing authorities of social housing support and no form of social housing support is reserved for qualified households that include such members.
196. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority-owned homes vacant at present; and if he will provide in tabular form the figures by local authority area and the reasons for the vacancy. [45586/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the work under way to make vacant local authority-owned homes available for new tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45587/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
Under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. Statistics on local authority housing stock, including units that may be empty, are published annually by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent statistics are in respect of 2012 and are available at the following link: http://www.lgma.ie/sites/default/files/service_indicators_2012_report_for_website_0.pdf.
In April 2014, my Department allocated €15 million for works to refurbish a total of 952 vacant properties. A further €20 million was added for the Voids programme, under the Stimulus Package for the construction sector, with €15 million of this available this year. This investment of €30 million in 2014 will result in returning an overall target of 1,960 vacant and boarded up units to productive use, and in an energy efficient condition. The number of such units in each Local Authority area is set out in the table below.
Budget 2015 has given a further impetus to this area, and I envisage a further 1,000 vacant properties being returned to productive use through this additional funding.
|
Local Authority |
Vacant Units to be returned to productive use in 2014 |
|
Carlow |
26 |
|
Cavan |
15 |
|
Clare |
42 |
|
Cork City |
186 |
|
Cork County |
155 |
|
Donegal |
115 |
|
Dublin City |
371 |
|
Fingal |
147 |
|
South Dublin |
75 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
3 |
|
Galway City |
42 |
|
Galway County |
62 |
|
Kerry |
45 |
|
Kildare |
67 |
|
Kilkenny |
25 |
|
Laois |
27 |
|
Leitrim |
15 |
|
Limerick |
86 |
|
Longford |
15 |
|
Louth |
10 |
|
Mayo |
81 |
|
Meath |
53 |
|
Monaghan |
11 |
|
Offaly |
31 |
|
Roscommon |
21 |
|
Sligo |
26 |
|
Tipperary |
66 |
|
Waterford |
48 |
|
Westmeath |
46 |
|
Wexford |
16 |
|
Wicklow |
32 |
|
Total |
1960 |
198. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the process of pyrite remediation is expected to commence in respect of a property (details supplied) in County Dublin. [45588/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation o f the pyrite remediation scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions and as Minister I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme or to individual applications made thereunder.
My Department understands that almost 600 applications have been received to date under the scheme and that the Board aims to remediate these dwellings within a two-year period.
199. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the water meters being installed by Irish Water are capable of smart metering, that is, if they are capable of being read remotely. [45597/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group (now Ervia) and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. Irish Water has informed my Department that each water meter has a low power radio unit fixed to the top which enables it to be read periodically from a passing van. This is what is known as Automatic Meter Reading (AMR). The AMR is dormant until the meter is read when it is activated only for the purpose of taking the meter read. The meters used by Irish Water do not currently employ smart metering technology. However, the meters are capable of being integrated into a smart meter reading system, should that ever be required.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
200. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money paid out of the local government fund to Irish Water under the provision of section 6(2CA) of the Local Government Act 1998 (as amended), indicating the amounts paid, the dates moneys transferred; the purpose of the transfer in each case; his plans to transfer further funds in 2014 or 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45621/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrior to 1 January 2014 capital funding for public water services was provided from my Department’s Water Services Investment programme (WSIP) and Rural Water Programme (RWP). Funding for operational expenditure has, in the main, come from the Local Government Fund (LGF). 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. 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. In 2014 the Local Government Fund’s budget provide for funding of €486.5m to Irish Water for water-related expenditures incurred previously by local authorities.
The payments made from the Local Government Fund to Irish Water to date in 2014 are set out in the table below.
|
Date |
Amount |
|
11 March 2014 |
€121,500,000 |
|
3 April 2014 |
€40,500,000 |
|
8 May 2014 |
€162,000,000 |
|
3 July 2014 |
€40,500,000 |
|
10 September 2014 |
€20,000,000 |
|
25 September 2014 |
€40,000,000 |
|
Total to Date |
€424,500,000 |
It is anticipated that a further €14.5m will be paid to Irish Water in December.
The remainder of the €486.5m is being paid directly to local authorities in respect of water-related loan recoupment costs. €23.9m was paid directly to local authorities for this purpose in August 2014 and i t is anticipated that a further €23.5m will be paid in December.
All decisions in relation to Local Government Fund income and expenditure for 2015 will be finalised as part of the Revised Estimates Volume process. It is envisaged that the subvention to Irish Water in 2015 will be some €399m.
