Written Answers Nos. 214-220
214. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the results of the SICAP, social inclusion and community activation programme, tendering process will be known by partnership boards and staff around Ireland. [9540/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State and is being implemented on a transitional basis until the end of March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) on 1 April 2015.
In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice, good practice internationally and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of services to clients, SICAP is subject to a public procurement process, which is in its final stages. Tenderers have now been informed of the outcome of their tender and Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) are in the process of issuing contracts to the successful tenderers.
The primary focus of my Department is to ensure that the front-line services being supported, particularly those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities, are protected, given the need to ensure best value for the scarce resources available. I am confident that the new programme will continue to provide key supports to those most in need in our communities.
I am satisfied that the procurement process was in line with good practice, conforming to EU norms, and I look forward to the commencement and roll out of SICAP on 1 April.
215. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce rules with regard to two neighbours living alongside each other in a built-up environment where they have hedges or trees growing on the boundary fence which may be encroaching or causing upset to their neighbour's property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9549/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is currently a civil remedy available concerning branches or roots of neighbouring trees encroaching on one’s property. The previous Minister of State for Housing and Planning wrote to the Minister for Justice on this issue in June 2012 to explore the possibility of providing a broader civil law remedy for affected parties. 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.
216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his office has received requests from each of the local authorities for approval for the purchase or building of local authority houses; the extent to which he expects this to impact on the housing lists in County Kildare and adjoining counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9566/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects Kildare County Council to receive funds and approval from his Department to address the housing requirement in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9567/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.
Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list.
The Strategy targets the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units over the period to 2020. The cost to the exchequer of building, acquiring, or leasing these 35,000 units is estimated over the period to 2020 to be €3.8 billion. Significant exchequer funding is being allocated to ensure that the early phases of the Strategy will be delivered.
Actions 1 and 4 of the Strategy require the agreement of national targets for delivery of social housing across local authorities in 2015 and in subsequent years. This process is well underway on an individual local authority by local authority basis, and will be concluded by the end of Quarter 1 2015, in accordance with the timeline set out in the Strategy. In this regard, my Department has sought and received delivery proposals from each local authority, including Kildare County Council and adjoining authorities, for the years 2015 to 2017 and these are now being assessed.
The precise details of the delivery will be agreed on a local authority by local authority basis in the coming weeks. However, these will be based on the targets which are set out in the Strategy, under which I expect some 5,800 new social housing units to be built or acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies over the period 2015 to 2017, with a further 1,700 vacant local authority units being returned to use. The allocation of funding to local authorities for the build and acquisition of social housing units will be based on the proposals they will be implementing to deliver social housing units in line with the targets of the Social Housing Strategy.
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current position/status of unpaid shared ownership mortgages, impairment of which is due to an annual increase of 4.3% on rental equity; if he will suggest a general resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9568/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made to date in the matter of resolving issues arising from shared ownership mortgages; if he has received information relating to the full extent of associated problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9590/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 224 together.
In 2013, the Housing Agency was asked to conduct a stand-alone review of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures. While an initial draft of the review was received from the Agency, a number of issues have been identified that need further detailed financial analysis in order to fully assess the impact on local authority finances of possible mitigating measures.
This substantial data collection project involving my Department, the Local Government Management Agency and the local authorities themselves is under way. It will be a number of months before sufficient data has been collected in order to complete the requisite analysis to finalise the review.
Pending full conclusion of this review, my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities setting out some of the options and interim actions that might be explored to alleviate the difficulties of those in shared ownership distress, such as allowing use of the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process and room rental for Shared Ownership mortgage holders. It is accepted that these proposals are not a complete solution to the issues that arise for such mortgage holders but are intended as an interim measure pending the outcome of the review.
My Department issued revised guidelines to local authorities for dealing with mortgage arrears within the local authority sector in June 2014. Dealing with Mortgage Arrears – A Guide for Local Authorities is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,30943,en.pdf.
219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he expects to be in a position to assist Kildare County Council, the ESB and eircom to underground utility cables in Celbridge, County Kildare, directly or through Leader or otherwise, having particular regard to the heritage status of the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9570/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the Local Action Groups (LAGs) are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the Local Development Strategy of the LAG and in line with the operating rules and EU regulations that govern the Programme. My Department has no role in relation to the selection of projects to be funded.
I understand from Kildare LEADER Partnership that an application for the project referred to by the Deputy has been considered by their Board and was not approved for funding at this time due to financial constraints. Funding under the 2007-2013 Programme is now fully committed but I expect that the new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will commence later this year and there will be potential under this Programme to fund such enhancements, if they are identified as a priority in the Local Development Strategy for the area.
The new Programme will provide €250 million in resources to support the sustainable development of rural communities across the country. However, my Department will, again, have no role to play in the selection of individual projects at local level.
220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the most recent results of the monitoring of air pollution; the way these compare with previous results; if he expects to take any corrective action arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9571/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAir quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, also known as the CAFE Directive. The Directive requires that certain minimum levels of monitoring are conducted for the purpose of assessment and management of air quality. The EPA has responsibility for the monitoring of air quality in Ireland, and monitors a range of atmospheric pollutants, based on data obtained from the 29 monitoring stations that form the national ambient air quality network. The EPA publishes an annual report on air quality, based primarily on the monitoring requirements of the CAFE Directive. The most recent report, Air Quality in Ireland 2013 – Key Indicators of Ambient Air Quality, was published in October 2014 and provides an assessment of air quality in Ireland for 2013, compared to the CAFE Directive standards as well as assessments in relation to more stringent World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines for the protection of human health.
I welcome the fact that downward trends have been identified for many pollutants and that Ireland currently meets all EU standards for air quality, while noting that Ireland exceeds WHO air quality guideline values for particulate matter in some areas. Particulate matter levels are of concern, particularly during the winter heating season in areas where the sale of smoky coal is permitted. Because of this, levels of particulate matter in smaller towns are similar or higher than those in cities where smoky coal is banned. To help protect our good air quality, the Irish consumer must become more aware of their choice in home heating fuel and the potential impact that choice can have on air quality in their locality and on human health.
In August 2012, following a public consultation process, new solid fuel regulations (S.I. No. 326 of 2012) were introduced with the aim of ensuring that the smoky coal ban remains fit for purpose in safeguarding air quality by limiting harmful emissions of air pollutants arising from the use of certain residential solid fuels. The ban now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide, including all towns with a population greater than 15,000 people, bringing the ban areas broadly into line with national EPA air quality management zones. While my Department keeps the matter under regular review, I have no immediate plans at present to extend the ban to new towns.
Air quality monitoring by the EPA has shown that air quality is poorer in towns where the smoky coal ban does not apply, although there is evidence that smaller smoky coal ban areas tend to be less effective. The further extension of the ban to smaller towns on an individual basis may not be the most effective solution to addressing the problem of emissions from residential solid fuel use in these areas. Similarly, the border with Northern Ireland would present enforcement challenges if a national ban on smoky coal were unilaterally introduced. However, it is recognised that having different regulations between urban and rural locations is not ideal, as it results in different levels of environmental protection and clean air benefits for citizens in different locations.
Under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council, and in conjunction with the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, my Department has commissioned a study to inform a discussion on policy options to further address emissions from residential solid fuel use on an all-island basis. The study includes an assessment of the solid fuel market and barriers to the use of cleaner fuels; consideration of the role and impacts of biomass (primarily wood and wood-based products) and the links to climate policy; and an economic analysis addressing the potential positive and negative effects on the consumer, for example, resulting from potential fuel switching, the availability of smokeless fuels to supply an all-island market and job creation opportunities in the manufacture and supply of smokeless fuels.
A final report is expected to be presented to the North South Ministerial Council later this year. It should be noted that no decision has been made at this point regarding a nation-wide ban on the sale of smoky coal.
