Written Answers Nos. 15-22
15. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the wind farm guidelines on which a public consultation was held will be published, and the main provisions of same; and his plans to bring forward to Committee Stage the Wind Turbines Bill 2014 that was accepted last year by the Government. [9109/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:
- The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,
- A mandatory minimum setback of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and
- The complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.
A public consultation process was initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until 21 February 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this period. In this regard, account has to be taken of the extensive response to the public consultation in framing the final guidelines.
The Wind Turbines Bill 2014, which was debated during Private Members’ time in April 2014, was not opposed by the Government at second stage reading. However, it is my intention that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised in the near future and will address many of the issues raised in that Bill.
16. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is proposed that new water services legislation will include provision for local authorities and private landlords to take water charges from the deposits of tenants, or to add unpaid charges to rents. [9099/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
It is the occupier of a property that is liable to pay domestic water charges and legislation provides that the owner is the occupier unless the contrary is proven. Irish Water is providing landlords with the opportunity to prove that they are not the occupier by providing the tenant's name. This will allow Irish Water to contact the tenant to complete the registration and to bill the tenant. The tenant will have to register with Irish Water to avail of the water conservation grant or to get lower charges than the default capped charge (€260), where they are single adult occupants or their metered usage is less than the maximum charge.
My Department is consulting with the local government sector, social housing providers and landlord and tenant representatives in the course of drafting legislation to give effect to measures proposed in relation to tenants and unpaid water charges. Further details on the modalities involved will be available on publication of the draft legislation following Government approval and the completion of the necessary consultations with relevant representative organisations.
17. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the current void in the financial support for rural projects, if he will urgently resume the Leader programme; if he will ensure the existing partnership companies will be given the substantial role to continue in delivering vital services to rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6681/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to address poverty reduction, social inclusion and economic development in rural areas. LEADER is delivered through the medium of Local Development Strategies (LDS) by Local Action Groups (LAGs ) and the selection process for both the LEADER Local Development Strategies and Local Action Groups will begin in the coming weeks.
The selection process will be open and transparent and will consist of two separate stages. Stage one, a call for Expressions of Interest to design and implement LEADER Local Development Strategies for the 2014-2020 programme period, will commence shortly. This stage will be open to any entity that can demonstrate broad local and community participation and that has a coherent vision for the development of their area. In stage two of the selection process, Local Action Groups successful in stage one will be invited to submit a Local Development Strategy for their area.
Itis the Government’s preference,indelivering on the mandate to bring improved coherence to local and community development, that there be a single, coherent LEADER strategy in each of the 28 Sub-Regional areas identified for the delivery of LEADER local development strategies. I recognise the benefits to the new programme for local development companies, and other community groups, to be active partners in the development and implementation of LEADER strategies. Therefore, I will continue to encourage discussions at local level with a view to encouraging LCDCs, Local Development Companies and other interested entities to agree ona single, coherent approach in each area. Where agreement is reached, and where the LCDC becomesthe designated local action group for their area, I would envisage that the existing local development companies will be key implementing partners.
Notwithstanding the level of work to be done in advance of the programme becoming operational, I expect that the programme will be in a position to start selecting Local Development Strategies for implementation by mid-2015.
18. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider releasing funding for extensions and home improvements to local authorities as a way of easing the pressure on the housing waiting lists, as many persons living in overcrowded conditions would then be able to stay in their current homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9072/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to local authorities for various social housing supports, including for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding provided by my Department meets 90% of the cost of such works, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%. My Department is currently liaising with all local authorities in relation to requirements for 2015 in this area. The administration of this funding locally is a matter for each local authority, including decisions in relation to the projects to be implemented.
In addition to the provision of social housing units and the improvement and upkeep of social housing stock, the Social Housing Strategy also recognises the value of providing targeted support towards some non-social housing situations. In this regard, my Department provides funding under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. The suite of grants under these Schemes provide significant social benefit in terms of facilitating the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability.
Exchequer funding of over €37 million was provided in 2014 for these grants. Combined with the local authority’s contribution, this gave an overall spend of €46.3m. At national level, the 2015 amount will increase by some 10% to give a combined spend of €50.5 million. Again, the administration of the grants is a matter for individual local authorities.
19. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has any information on the carbon footprint of one 3 MW wind turbine, taking into account the transport, materials and the installation process involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9075/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to provide the Deputy with a precise measurement of the carbon footprint of any individual 3 MW wind turbine, taking into account the transport, materials and installation process involved as this is dependent on a number of factors including the sourcing of the turbine, the nature of the development site and access to it.
I would refer the Deputy to the website of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for further information in relation to the low carbon benefits of renewables (including wind energy) by comparison to fossil fuels.
20. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he remains satisfied that the measures to alleviate the housing crisis are adequate in every respect, with particular reference to ensuring that progress is monitored in such a way as to make adequate provision for families already on the local authority housing lists, families likely to become homeless in view of rapidly increasing rents and families who may be affected by repossessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9064/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial housing is a key priority for the Government, evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for social housing in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November 2014.
The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units, at a projected cost of €3.8 billion, and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.
At this point, all local authorities have submitted delivery proposals for social housing across all delivery mechanisms for the years 2015 to 2017 and these are currently being examined in my Department.
Total housing provision for 2015 will result in an investment of almost €800 million across a range of housing programmes. I expect that some 7,400 new social housing units will be provided in 2015, broken down as follows:
- 1,400 units to be built or acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies;
- 3,000 units under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative;
- 1,000 vacant local authority units will be returned to use; and,
- 2,000 new Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units.
In addition, a further 8,400 households will be assisted through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
In terms of preventing homelessness, the Government’s Homelessness Policy Statement makes explicit the Government’s commitment to a housing-led approach to end long-term homelessness and the three key aspects of this approach: supply, prevention and support are outlined in the Statement. The Statement also includes a target to end involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016.
In order to increase the allocations of social housing to homeless households I recently issued a Ministerial Direction to each of the four Dublin local authorities and to each of the housing authorities in Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford, on prioritising homeless households and other vulnerable groups for housing in their respective areas.
The Tenancy Protection Service, provided by Threshold, is key to ensuring families at risk of homelessness can remain in their current accommodation. Over 340 families at imminent risk of homelessness were able to remain in their homes as a result of its intervention. The service has recently been extended to Cork.
I am committed to helping families remain in their homes and in an effort to increase the numbers delivered under the mortgage to rent scheme, a new protocol between all parties in the process was agreed and came into operation in June 2014.
21. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money in owed development contributions transferred to Irish Water on property vesting day under section 12(8) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, broken down by the local authority to which they were formerly owed; the amount that has been collected; the amount Irish Water has spent on recovering these funds to date; the amount that has been written off by Irish Water and deemed irrecoverable; if local authorities are still tasked with any element of recovering such moneys, and to what extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9080/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 14 January 2015 I signed an order under section 12 of the Water Services (No 2) Act 2013. This order was not connected with the transfer of development contributions; rather, it provided for the transfer to Irish Water of all underground water services assets previously vested in the local authorities. To date, this is the only order that has been made under section 12.
Information on the monetary value of development contributions collected at year end and not spent is not available in my Department. Local authorities are obliged to include, in Note 11 of their Annual Financial Statements, data showing the closing balances for development contributions. The overall Development Contributions balances listed in the AFS comprise both cash and debtors and include adjustments for movements in bad debt provisions.
Work is currently underway between Irish Water and the local authorities in relation to the identification and quantification of the water-related financial liabilities. Final agreement on the liability to transfer to Irish Water, including financial assets, liabilities and debtors, will be by way of balancing statements agreed between Irish Water and local authorities. It is anticipated that this work will be completed shortly.
22. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the commitment in the programme for Government regarding the Irish Water networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3364/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out a commitment to create Irish Water, a new State owned utility, to take over responsibility for Ireland’s public water infrastructure and accelerate the planned investments needed to upgrade the State’s water network. 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 including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has published its proposed Capital Investment Plan (CIP) 2014-2016 and this is available online at http://www.water.ie/news/proposed-capital-investme/Proposed-Capital-Investment-Plan-2014-2016.pdf. The plan outlines a number of priorities to be delivered including improving water quality, tackling leakage, improving capacity and investing for economic development and it identifies where Irish Water considers investment in infrastructure is necessary for the effective performance of its functions.
Under Section 33 of the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013, Irish Water is required to prepare a Water Services Strategic Plan which will outline the objectives of Irish Water in relation to the provision by it of water services up to 2040. The Plan will be a strategic framework which will identify the key objectives required to ensure the public water system can meet future requirements and set out how these objectives will be achieved.
On 1 September 2014 I issued a Direction to Irish Water relating to the form that the Strategic Plan must take. The Plan must have a customer-focused approach with identifiable, time-bound and measurable objectives set out. Irish Water has now published a draft Water Services Strategic Plan which is open for public consultation until 17 April 2015. The draft plan and details of the consultation are available on the Company’s website at http://www.water.ie/about-us/project-and-plans/future-plans/. Following this consultation, the draft Plan will be submitted to me, as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, for approval.
