Written Answers Nos. 619-637
621. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he and his Department have received complaints from Leader companies regarding the funding that has been allocated to them; the way these complaints will be dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12744/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra623. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has been informed that the new allocation of Leader funding by his Department will result in job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12746/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra636. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the huge concerns of Leader companies regarding the huge reduction in their funding; how he plans to address their valid concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12893/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra638. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that the new allocation of Leader funding by his Department will result in job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12895/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 621, 623, 636 and 638 together.
Ireland is reconfiguring the way in which local and rural development interventions are implemented. This is in line with Government policy to ensure that local government is well positioned to support the effective and efficient delivery of local and rural development. In this context €220m of the overall programme complement for the 2014-2020 period has been allocated based on administrative or county boundaries to 28 sub-regional areas.
For the avoidance of any doubt, it should be noted that the allocations announced on 10 March 2015 were not allocations to current Local Development Companies. The allocations were made to counties on the basis that Local Development Strategies will emerge from these counties to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme. Any entities contracted to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme will be selected on the basis of an open and transparent selection process the first stage of which was launched on 23 March 2015.
Under the EU regulatory framework governing the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, each EU Member State must conduct an open and transparent process to select both the Local Development Strategies and the Local Action Group(s) for each sub-regional area. Accordingly, my Department is conducting a two stage process. The first stage, which is an Expressions of Interest (EOI) stage, was recently launched and any entity wishing to be considered as a Local Action Group for their area has until 15 May 2015 to submit an EOI. Further details are available on my Department’s website on
http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/RuralDevelopment/EURuralDevelopment/RuralDevelopmentProgrammeLEADER2014-2020/SelectionProcessforLEADER2014-2020/.
Entities successful in the first stage of the process will be invited and supported in Stage Two of the process, which is the design of a Local Development Strategy for their area. I expect that some Local Development Strategies will be operational and funding available by Autumn 2015.
My Department has no role in the internal operations of Local Development Companies and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of each company, as the employer, to manage.
624. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the housing developments, by county, in each of the four categories under the national housing development survey 2011; the number of developments in each category which remain to be completed and taken in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12832/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2010, an annual national housing survey of unfinished housing developments has been conducted during the summer months to monitor progress. The detailed findings of the annual surveys, annual progress reports and other useful publications and information in relation to Unfinished Housing Developments are available on the Housing Agency’s website at: http://www.housing.ie/Our-Services/Unfinished-Housing-Developments.aspx.
As part of the Government’s Public Safety Initiative (PSI) for Unfinished Housing Developments and subsequent to the 2011 National Housing Development Survey, local authorities were requested to categorise the surveyed unfinished developments in order to identify developments with public safety type risks and where those risks were not being effectively managed or addressed by the developer or owner of the site. Sites categorised as same were eligible for PSI funding from my Department.
Given the once-off nature of the Public Safety Initiative, the categorisation of developments was also one-off and not repeated in subsequent annual surveys. Therefore, it is not possible to directly compare the categories of unfinished housing developments from 2011 with the current list of unfinished housing developments.
The 2014 survey findings show the number of unfinished housing developments has decreased by approximately, two-thirds; from nearly 3,000 in 2010 to 992 in 2014. A breakdown by county for 2014 is provided in Table 2 of Resolving Unfinished Housing Developments Annual Progress Report on Actions to Address Unfinished Housing Developments available on the Housing Agency’s website at :
http://www.housing.ie/getattachment/Our-Services/Unfinished-Housing-Developments/2014-National-Housing-Survey/2014-Progress-Report-UFHDs-Final-edit.pdf.
The management and administration of issues relating to unfinished housing developments is a matter for individual local authorities. Each local authority has appointed an Unfinished Housing Development co-ordinator; contact details can be found on the Housing Agency’s website at: www.housing.ie.
625. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that the management of Sligo County Council believes it will be difficult for the council to submit a sustainable financial plan to his Department without knowing his Department's funding commitment to the council over the next five years; if he is further aware that the council will need to hear precisely, or receive in writing, the funding commitment of his Department over the term of the financial plan; if he will put in place a policy of providing local authorities with advance notice of multi-annual funding proposals; if he will provide Sligo County Council with precise details of the funding he will provide to it over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12860/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSligo County Council’s financial position is of serious concern to me. While it is a matter for individual local authorities to manage their own day-to-day finances in a prudent and sustainable manner, my Department is in regular consultation with the Council in relation to its financial position, including in relation to the agreement of a long term financial plan. Local Property Tax (LPT) was introduced to provide an alternative, stable and sustainable funding base for the local authority sector, providing greater levels of connection between local revenue raising and associated expenditure decisions. In accordance with the decisions taken by Government, 80% of LPT will be retained locally to fund vital public services in 2015. The remaining 20% will be re-distributed to provide top-up funding to certain local authorities that have lower property tax bases due to the variance in property values across the State and to ensure that their 2015 LPT funding levels are at least equalised at 2014 General Purpose Grant levels. Every local authority has the power, from 1 July 2014, to vary the basic rate of LPT by up to 15%. In the event that a local authority decides to increase LPT rates, they will retain 100% of the additional LPT collected.
Where a local authority decides to reduce LPT rates, the full cost of that reduction will be reflected in a reduced LPT allocation to that local authority. In particular, for those local authorities entitled to receive funding from the equalisation fund, as is the case with Sligo County Council in 2015, the Government has decided that the level of funding they will receive from the equalisation fund will be set at the level that they would be entitled to had they not reduced LPT rates. As such, local authorities will not be compensated for the loss of income arising from the downward variation of the rate.
Sligo County Council’s provisional Local Property Tax allocation in 2015 is €9,993,352. This includes an allocation of €1million in additional funding for 2015 for the Council to assist it to take the steps necessary to move to a more sustainable financial position. The payment of the additional funding for 2015 remains fully conditional on a realistic and achievable financial plan, which charts a path to long term financial sustainability, being agreed between my Department and the Council; this process is on-going. Matters relating to equalisation levels and distribution of LPT for future years will be reviewed as necessary and appropriate. My Department is in regular communication with the Chief Executive of Sligo County Council and his staff in relation to the development of this essential financial plan and have agreed the approach to financial projections that should be adopted in relation to both future funding and expenditure lines as is normal practice in the development of multi-annual financial projections for any organisation.
626. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons currently on local authority housing waiting lists in south Dublin county, Fingal county, Dún Laoghaire county and Dublin City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12864/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest summary of social housing assessments, as of 7 May 2013, provides data on the number of households on local authority waiting lists at that date across a range of categories broken down by authority. Details on the number of households on the waiting lists in the four Dublin authorities are outlined in the table:
|
County |
Amount |
|
South Dublin County Council |
6,217 |
|
Fingal County Council |
6,020 |
|
Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council |
3,406 |
|
Dublin City Council |
16,171 |
|
Total: |
31,814 |
The full 2013 results are available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.
The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date figures available on waiting list numbers, which are subject to on-going fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying for housing support. However, the 2013 results cannot be directly compared to previous results given that this latest summary employed different methodologies and was the first to be carried out under the 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations.
In order to get the most accurate data relating to the numbers applying for social housing support, the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020, published in November 2014, includes a commitment to increase the regularity of the summary of social housing assessments by undertaking it on annual basis from 2016 onwards.
627. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applications each local authority has received under the housing assistance payment scheme; the number of these that have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12865/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published on 26 November 2014. The HAP scheme will bring all social housing supports provided by the State under the aegis of local authorities. The scheme will remove a barrier to employment by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment. HAP will also improve regulation of the rented accommodation being supported and provide certainty for landlords as regards their rental income. Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the first phase of the HAP statutory pilot commenced with effect from 15 September 2014 in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork County Council. HAP commenced in Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin and Monaghan County Councils from 1 October. Subsequently, on 18 December, Dublin City Council became part of the statutory HAP pilot, with a specific focus on accommodating homeless households. Dublin City Council is implementing the HAP pilot for homeless households in the Dublin region on behalf of all 4 Dublin local authorities, including Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
During the legislation’s passage through the Oireachtas in July 2014 an undertaking was given that a report would be prepared for the relevant Oireachtas Committee. Data for this report are being gathered from pilot sites and a progress report will be submitted to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht shortly. Based on data gathered for the review, consideration is currently being given to the sequencing of local authorities to commence HAP on an incremental basis this year.
To date, in all bar one case, where a HAP applicant has qualified for social housing support and the Local Authority is in receipt of a valid and complete HAP application; the application has been processed and set-up. The HAP application of the household referred to was rejected due to anti-social behaviour issues.
The following table details the number of households supported by HAP at 27 March 2015:
|
Statutory Pilot Phase - Current Local Authorities |
Households supported by HAP at 27/03/2015 |
|
Cork County Council |
195 |
|
Dublin City Council |
1 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
282 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
395* |
|
Louth County Council |
160 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
58 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
77 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
130 |
|
Total |
1,298 |
*One application rejected due to anti-social behaviour issues.
628. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will be exempt from paying water charges. [12869/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new water charging regime was announced by the Government on 19 November 2014. The capped annual charges will be €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households until the end of 2018. All households will know what their capped bills will be until the end of 2018, which is particularly important for larger households or those with high usage due to medical needs. In addition, a water conservation grant of €100 per year will be available to qualifying households. The Department of Social Protection will administer the grant on behalf of my Department, which will be available to households (principal private dwellings) that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process.
The water conservation grant replaces the tax rebate and social protection measures previously announced and is a more straightforward means of addressing water issues for all households on equal terms and will reduce households’ outlay on water services both now and in the future.
The charges structure was revised with a view to making it simpler and fairer, providing more clarity and certainty to households. The overall cost for those who register with Irish Water, net of the €100 water conservation grant, is either €1.15 a week for single adult households or €3 a week for all others. Water supply will not be reduced under any circumstance.
When it comes to payment, a range of easy pay options will be in place, including direct debits, electronic funds transfer, payment by cash at any retail outlet with a paypoint or payzone sign or a post office where a bill can be paid in full or part payments of a minimum of €5 can be made. Irish Water also intends participating in the Household Budget scheme. This facility, operated by An Post on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, provides customers with a facility to have their household utility bills and social housing rents deducted directly from their weekly social welfare payment.
629. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is legislation proposed to deal with the matter of dogs barking in residential areas, particularly at night time, considering how annoying and upsetting it is for a person to have to listen to a dog in distress for prolonged periods of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12883/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of section 25 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986, the District Court may act on a complaint by any person where a nuisance has been created by excessive barking by a dog. A copy of the form used for complaints to the Courts regarding barking is available from local authorities. It is a matter for the authorities themselves to determine the most appropriate arrangements, including administrative arrangements, for purposes of implementation. While complaints in relation to barking dogs are largely dealt with under the provisions of the Control of Dogs Acts, the position in relation to noise nuisance generally is that a person experiencing noise nuisance may contact their local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been simplified to allow action to be taken without legal representation.
A public information leaflet, A Guide to the Noise Regulations, outlining the legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance, is available on my Department’s website:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Miscellaneous/FileDownLoad,1319,en.pdf.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to take further steps to address noise pollution, inter alia, through consideration of the introduction of fixed payment notices (also known as on-the-spot fines). The development of new noise legislation by my Department is being considered in the context of this commitment. However, as indicated in the Government’s Legislation Programme published on 14 January 2015, it is not possible at this time to indicate when such a Bill might be published, having regard to the broad range of legislative priorities to be progressed across my Department’s remit.
