Written Answers Nos. 554-569
555. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown by year, from 2016 to 2021, inclusive, of the estimated additional expenditure required to meet the requirements of demographic changes, on a no-policy-change basis; and if she will identify the component parts of that expenditure. [18697/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is in the process of updating its estimate of the impact of demographics on expenditure on the Education and Skills Vote, to take account of latest available projections of pupil numbers over the years ahead. It is planned that this exercise will be completed shortly. However, earlier indicative figures of the cost of providing for demographics were set out in an analytical paper compiled by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service and published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of Budget 2013. The link to this paper is at the following address, http://igees.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Final-Budget-Expenditure-Report-Educational-Expenditure.pdf. The paper calculated the impact of demographics in terms of teacher numbers in schools and of the cost of capitation grant payments. It estimated additional costs in this regard of some €207 million arising between 2016 and 2021. In addition to these costs, there would also be impacts on other areas such as special needs expenditure, school transport and student grants. Demographic pressures will also create pressures on school accommodation and consequent pressure for capital investment. Much, however, will depend in this regard on the location and distribution of the additional pupil numbers.
556. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the assessment her Department has carried out on the present and future second level accommodation needs for students wishing to attend post-primary schools in Newbridge, County Kildare; her views that an additional post-primary school is required in this catchment area; if consideration has been given to the possible patronage, under which such a school would operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18705/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently carrying out a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school places might be needed from 2017 onwards. This includes an examination of the Newbridge area. On foot of this review, arrangements will be made to provide additional post-primary accommodation where this is needed.
In the meantime, a building project to provide for additional post-primary school places in St. Conleth's Community College in Newbridge is at tender stage.
Where new schools are needed, my Department runs an open patronage determination process to determine who will operate the schools. It is open to all patrons and prospective patrons to apply under this process.
557. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efficiencies being achieved in the sectors under her remit, regarding the use of shared services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18833/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Skills, under the mandate of the Public Service Reform Plan for 2014 – 2016, published the Education and Training Sector Shared Services Plan 2014 – 2016.
The Shared Services Plan committed to an extensive programme of reform which includes projects for Higher Education, the schools sector, SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards (ETB's), the Department and its agencies.
The major Shared Services initiatives in the Education and Training Sector include:
- Payroll Shared Services ETBs
- Payroll Shared Services Higher Education
- Financial Management Shared Service ETBs
These projects are currently at planning and development stage, for this reason it is not possible to report on efficiencies at this point.
The Department is also participating in the Civil Service Shared Services projects for HR, Payroll, and Finance, the costs of these initiatives are managed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department is now fully operational within the HR and Payroll Civil Service Shared Service Centres.
Other initiatives such as the Student Grants Reform Project which developed into Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) are currently providing the benefits of centralised provision to the Sector. With a move from 66 grant awarding authorities to one single authority, SUSI provides students with a single point of contact and is a more cost efficient and effective service delivery channel.
558. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the Government's response to the findings of the Moriarty tribunal; if he will provide details of actions already taken, and those proposed to be taken, and the timescale for same. [18135/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012, the 2012 Act, which became law in July 2012, significantly enhanced the openness and transparency of political funding in Ireland. These were issues that were central to the recommendations made in the Moriarty Tribunal Report which was published in March 2011. The Tribunal recommended that the income of political parties be disclosed and that political donations, apart from those under a modest threshold, be reported.
The 2012 Act brought into force restrictions on corporate donations and considerable reductions in the maximum amount that a political party or an individual can accept as a political donation.
The donation limit for a political party was reduced from €6,348.69 to €2,500, while for an individual politician or candidate it fell from €2,539.48 to €1,000. A limit of €200 was placed on donations in cash. The threshold for the receipt of anonymous donations was reduced to €100. The donation threshold amount that gives rise to the requirement to open a political donations account was reduced to €100. Anonymous indirect donations were banned. The threshold at which political party donations must be reported and published was reduced from €5,078.95 to €1,500.
The 2012 Act provides that political parties are required to submit audited annual accounts to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) for publication. In line with SIPO guidelines, which came into effect on 1 January 2015, the first set of accounts required to be audited will be in respect of 2015 and must be submitted to SIPO by mid 2016. This requirement goes beyond the Moriarty Tribunal recommendation by providing that both the income and expenditure of political parties will be reported and open to public scrutiny. By restricting corporate donations, the Act also went beyond the recommendations made by the Tribunal.
559. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the legal avenues that exist for a resident of a private property in County Kerry, who is the victim of noise nuisance from a neighbouring private residential property; if the fact that a person is being deprived of sleep, nightly, is considered; the regulations that exist in relation to noise nuisance from heating and extraction systems; his plans to improve legislation and regulation in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18110/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, 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 at the following link: 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.
560. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if grants are available to a home owner, where a water meter has been installed at the road, but there is no connection to the house, for the purposes of installing a pipe to connect water to the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18141/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it in accordance with a water charges plan to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).
Section 22(5) of the Act provides that a water charges plan may provide for charges in respect of the provision of a service connection (within the meaning of the Water Services Act 2007) to or in respect of a premises. In its decision on Irish Water’s Water Charges Plan, published in October 2014, the CER stated that, until it made a decision on Irish Water’s new connection charges, Irish Water should continue to apply the connection fee arrangements that were in place in each local authority on 31 December 2013.
The CER has recently reviewed its 2015 work plan with Irish Water and has published, in its Water Charges Plan Decision Paper of 5 March 2015, the areas that it will be progressing in 2015, which includes the development of Connection Charging Policy. Later this year, the CER will publish a detailed work plan in relation to connection charges and will consult widely as part of that plan.
561. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a legal requirement, or a policy from his Department, to supply the electronic copy of the electoral register to elected representatives, as set out in section 34(e)(3) of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, in a particular file format. [18159/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe requirements on local authorities, as registration authorities, in relation to the publication and provision of copies of the electoral register are set out in rules 13, 14 and 25 of the Second Schedule to the Electoral Act 1992, as amended. Under rule 25, where any document is required to be published in accordance with the Second Schedule to the Electoral Act 1992, the document may be published in such manner as the local authority consider desirable for the purpose of bringing the contents to the notice of persons interested. When publishing the register of electors, the local authority is also required under rule 13(4) to send a copy to each member of the Dáil in relation to their constituency. The format in which that copy is sent is a matter for the local authority.
Under rule 14(3) a local authority may provide to any person a copy of the register in printed form or in electronic format on payment of a fee. The electronic format in which a copy of the register may be provided in such cases is not specified in the Act.
562. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the allocation of funding for the social housing building programme was decided; the criteria applied; the reason there was such a difference in allocation between counties Tipperary and Wicklow, in view of the fact that both have similar populations; and if instructions have been issued to local authorities with respect to their building programmes and where building would take place. [18185/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 5 May, 2015 I announced a major social housing construction programme with €312 million investment nationally, covering all 31 local authorities, and with over 1,700 housing units to be built across some 100 separate projects. That announcement included projects for Tipperary covering 45 units at an estimated cost of €6.9 million and 50 units in Wicklow at an estimated cost of €8.2 million.
The announcement followed the submission by all local authorities of proposals for their planned delivery of new social housing out to 2017. Local authorities had been requested to focus on projects that would -
- be suitable for early commencement and completion;
- meet social housing need in the area; and
- represent good value for money.
The proposals were reviewed by my Department based on the above criteria.
No instructions issued to local authorities with regard to locations for individual building proposals. It is a matter for local authorities themselves to identify need across their area and propose social housing delivery to meet that need.
The announcement of 5 May 2015 was the first such announcement under the Social Housing Strategy 2020. Further announcements will be made as local authority proposals for the delivery of social housing units are evaluated.
563. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown, by each local authority, of the number of applications that have been lodged with his Department to purchase finished or semi-finished houses; when he will be making a decision on these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18195/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the responsibility of each local authority, as the housing authority for its area, to identify the social housing need and to make proposals to my Department in respect of the best response to this need within the available funding. The funding provided to local authorities under my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment Programme supports both the development of new social housing units and the acquisition of units.
Acquisition proposals are developed by local authorities and submitted to my Department on an on-going basis, particularly where there are specific social housing needs they are seeking to address and where there is good value for money available. Where such proposals are developed and submitted to my Department, they are assessed in relation to value-for-money and other criteria, and approval issues where appropriate.
564. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Chief Fire Officers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18198/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFire services in Ireland are provided by the local authorities designated in accordance with the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. The fire authorities provide a range of operational and fire safety services through 27 service delivery units currently using an infrastructure of some 217 fire stations and 600 fire appliances and associated specialist equipment.
My Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management provides support through setting general policy, the provision of training support and guidance on operational and other related matters, and capital funding which, over the last decade, has exceeded €155 million.
Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 each City and County Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements to carry out the functions within his or her local authority.
While the information sought in the question is not available in the precise format requested, the national figure of senior fire officers employed by local authorities is 201 in Q1, 2015. The number of fire services with different numbers of senior fire officers is shown in the Table 1 below.
TABLE 1
NUMBERS OF SENIOR FIRE OFFICERS
|
Total Employed |
|||||||||
|
No. of Senior Officers in a fire service |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10+ |
|
|
No of fire services with this number |
2 |
8 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Total Number of Officers |
6 |
32 |
25 |
12 |
7 |
8 |
36 |
75 |
201 |
Overall, the number of Senior Fire Officers in local authorities has decreased from 270 in 2008 to 201 in 2014, a reduction of approximately 25% which is in line with the general reduction in local authority numbers. In contrast, fire-fighter numbers in Ireland have been maintained at a constant level since 2009 as shown in TABLE 2 below, despite the moratorium on public service recruitment.
TABLE 2
FIRE-FIGHTER NUMBERS
|
Year |
Fire Fighters – Whole Time Equivalent |
Retained Fire Fighters Headcount |
Total |
|
31 DEC-09 |
1222 |
2049 |
3271 |
|
31 DEC-10 |
1203 |
2030 |
3233 |
|
31 DEC-11 |
1189 |
2077 |
3266 |
|
31 DEC-12 |
1212 |
2041 |
3253 |
|
31 DEC-13 |
1200 |
2037 |
3237 |
|
31 DEC-14 |
1199 |
2039 |
3238 |
|
6 Year Average |
1204 |
2045 |
3249 |
Fire services are provided by the local authorities and senior fire officer grades are analogous to local authority engineering grades. The senior officers provide fire service leadership and management functions which enable the fire services in Ireland to function on a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week basis. In contrast to other jurisdictions where up to 20% of fire-fighter numbers are engaged in head-quarters/support functions, the senior fire officers in Ireland directly manage the operational fire services which have an annual budget of €267m and are staffed by the 3,250 fire fighters. They arrange, manage and deliver all training, procurement, maintenance, logistics and other support roles necessary for the functioning of the services. The senior officer grade plays a critical background role in ensuring quality and consistent services to the public when these are needed.
In addition, the small corps of senior fire officers also provide a range of specialist statutory and community fire safety functions. Fire officers also lead for local authorities in the area of major emergency management and co-ordinate with An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive. In a number of cases they manage communication facilities and oversee the Civil Defence service. Many fire officers also contribute to national/regional work to develop fire services in addition to their work with their own fire service.
It is a credit to our local authorities that they provide such quality and effective fire services. Ireland is in the league of most fire safe countries, with a three year average fire fatality rate of 6.4 deaths/million of population in the three years 2012-2014. Of course, each fire death is one too many and we cannot be complacent, but this statistic underscores the quality and professionalism of fire services which our fire authorities, led and managed by the small corps of senior officers, provide to communities.
565. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of elderly supports, schemes or grants that are currently funded in his Department; if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual funding for each scheme or support; the number of persons benefiting from them; the terms and conditions of each scheme; any additional demand being sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18207/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. The maximum grant per beneficiary for equipment is as follows:
- Monitored personal alarms (with pendant) - €250
- Additional pendant/Re-installation - €50
The annual monitoring costs (generally between €60 - €80 per annum) are borne by the beneficiary.
The funding allocated for the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2015 is €2.35m. The following table outlines the expenditure for this scheme and the overall number of beneficiaries for this demand-led scheme over recent years.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
Beneficiaries |
|
2012 |
€2.52m |
9,142 |
|
2013 |
€2.32m |
10,597 |
|
2014 |
€1.7m |
7,120 |
Further details on the Seniors Alert Scheme are available on my Department’s website at the following link : http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/SeniorsAlert.
My Department also provides funding to assist older persons to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes.
The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP) provides grants of up to € 8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting etc.
The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works to the fabric of the house such as adaptation of downstairs room/closet to provide sanitary facilities etc. The effective maximum grant available is €6,000 and may cover 100% of the cost of works subject to a maximum annual household income threshold of €30,000.
The schemes are generally 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from each local authority. The detailed breakdown of Exchequer funding provided by my Department to each local authority since 2008, including the number of grants paid, is available on my Department’s website at the following link
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/, by selecting ‘Social and Affordable Housing’, ‘Housing Adaptation Grants by Area 2008 to date’.
566. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding levels available to councils for home adaptation grants; his plans to amend the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18208/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra585. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of disability extensions which were completed in the years 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; the number awaiting extensions; the number of those awarded medical priority, who are awaiting building work to commence; the recommended European Union best practice, with regards to citizens with severe disabilities, including amputees, awaiting disability and-or adaptation extensions to their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18393/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 585 together.
Exchequer funding of over €37 million was provided by my Department to local authorities in 2014 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Combined with an additional 20% contribution by individual local authorities, there was an overall spend last year of €46.3 million in this area. I am pleased to confirm that the 2015 amount will increase by some 10% to give a combined spend of €50.5 million. The 2015 allocations are currently under consideration in my Department and will issue to local authorities shortly.
The detailed breakdown of exchequer funding for these grant schemes, as provided by my Department to each local authority over the period concerned, including the number of grants paid, is available on my Department’s website at the following link, http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/, and by then selecting ‘Social and Affordable Housing’, ‘Housing Adaptation Grants by Area 2008 to date’. The schemes are generally 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from each local authority.
My Department also provides funding to local authorities towards the cost of adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding from my Department meets 90% of the cost of such works, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%. Exchequer funding of €8m was provided to local authorities in 2014 in this regard. The administration of the grants is a matter for individual local authorities. My Department has received proposals in relation to this scheme for 2015 from each local authority which are currently being examined with a view to allocating funding to each authority as soon as possible.
There are no plans to amend these grant schemes. Their detailed administration is a matter for individual local authorities and, therefore, information in relation to the number of applications awaiting extensions, the number of those awarded medical priority who are awaiting building work to commence and the number of works carried out for each authority is the responsibility of the relevant local authority and is not available in my Department.
The ‘National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016’ is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/PublicationsDocuments/FileDo.wnLoad,28016,en.pdf. It sets out a framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities through mainstream housing policy, including the provision of adaptation grants and other housing supports for people with a disability.
567. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the needs of householders with properties with a pyrite damage rating of category 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18220/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pyrite remediation scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February of 2014, was developed having regard to, inter alia, the recommendations set out in the Report of the Pyrite Panel (July 2012) and the relevant provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. The full conditions for eligibility are set out in the scheme, which is available on the Board’s website (www.pyriteboard.ie). It is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment, carried out by a competent person in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol, with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. I have no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” which aims to repair homes affected with substantial damage and is targeted to assist a restricted group of homeowners who have no other practicable options to access redress.
My Department understands that, in a number of cases, dwellings which had a Damage Condition Rating of 1 when their Building Condition Assessments were first completed have now progressed to a Damage Condition Rating of 2; these dwellings have now been included in the pyrite remediation scheme.
While dwellings with Damage Condition Ratings of 1 do not qualify under the scheme, some may be considered in accordance with the exceptional circumstance provisions set out in section 17 of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. Section 17 provides that exceptional circumstances may apply where -
- failure to include a dwelling with a damage rating of 1 in the scheme may result in damage to a dwelling which is being remediated under the scheme, or
- pyrite remediation work is causing or may cause damage to the dwelling with the damage rating of 1.
Where a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 1 adjoins a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 2, the Housing Agency will be notified and will consider if exceptional circumstances apply when the Remedial Works Plan is being drawn up; the Board will be informed of any recommendation for a decision in the matter.
568. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options available to residents living in housing estates affected by pyrite in securing home insurance, if their property is unaffected by pyrite or is rated category 1; if he is aware of the difficulty householders in these situations are having in securing home insurance; the measures being undertaken to address this situation; his plans to issue green certification for category 1 with no visual evidence of pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18221/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I have no function in relation to the regulation or oversight of insurance providers or insurance based products, I am acutely aware of the upset and distress faced by many homeowners who have been affected by pyritic heave and am conscious that their difficulties can be exacerbated by the withdrawal of household insurance cover.
Nevertheless, the provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered are commercial matters for insurance companies and their decisions are based on the completion of assessments by such insurers of the risks involved. Ultimately, these matters are considered by insurers on a case-by-case basis and neither the Government nor the Central Bank can direct insurers to provide home insurance cover to specific individuals.
My Department understands that Insurance Ireland, which is the representative body for insurance companies in Ireland, operates a free Insurance Information Service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance. Their service can be contacted at Tel: (01) 676 1914 or by email at iis@insuranceireland.eu.
One of the key recommendations of the Report of the Pyrite Panel (July 2012) was the development of a protocol which would facilitate the testing and categorisation of dwellings to establish -
- if there is reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material, and
- whether it has caused pyritic heave.
In response to this recommendation, I.S. 398-1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and Categorisation was published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland in January 2013 and provides the means by which dwellings which may be affected by pyrite can be tested and categorised in order to assist in identifying appropriate options for remediation. In broad terms, the standard sets out a two-step process to facilitate the testing and categorisation of dwellings.
Firstly, the standard requires that a Building Condition Assessment be carried out; this comprises a desktop study and a visual non-invasive internal and external inspection of a dwelling, by a competent person, to establish the presence or absence of visible damage that is consistent with pyritic heave and to quantify the extent and significance of such damage in that dwelling. Damage ratings of 0, 1 or 2 can be assigned to a dwelling under this process.
Secondly, the results of the Building Condition Assessment will inform whether sampling and testing of the sub-floor hardcore of the dwelling will be required in order to confirm the presence or otherwise of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material. Dwellings which have been tested and the hardcore is shown not to be susceptible to expansion are classified as Category A (i.e. green certificate). These dwellings have a negligible risk of pyrite damage given testing has demonstrated that the hardcore is not susceptible to expansion; any damage that may be visible in such dwellings is likely to be attributable to other causes.
While there is no requirement on any homeowner to carry out testing on their property in order to confirm the presence or otherwise of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore, the standard does provide an objective, reliable and robust means by which dwellings can be tested and categorised. Accordingly, where insurance cover may be at issue, it is open to homeowners with a damage rating of 1 to proceed with the testing of the hardcore material to establish whether it is susceptible, or not susceptible, to expansion.
In the case of dwellings remediated under the pyrite remediation scheme, all works will be completed by competent builders to the requirements of I.S. 398-2:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material — Part 2: Methodology for remediation works , and will be overseen by construction professionals in accordance with the requirements of the Pyrite Resolution Board and the Housing Agency. There will also be oversight by construction professionals from within the Housing Agency itself to ensure that the works will be fully compliant with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations, that proper materials are used in the works and that remediated dwellings will be restored to the quality expected by the homeowners. At the end of the works, each homeowner will be provided with certification to confirm that their home has been remediated to the requirements of the relevant standard.
In this regard, I have written to Insurance Ireland to confirm the range of measures that are now in place to mitigate future risk of pyritic damage to dwellings remediated under the scheme and have signalled that my Department is available to meet with representatives from the insurance sector to address any concerns they may have in these matters.
569. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 408 and 410 of 28 April 2015, if he will correct the link in his reply (details supplied) in view of the fact it does not include the names and addresses of establishments, or the number of breeding bitches and puppies. [18229/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s website contains statistics in relation to certain local authority dog control functions provided by local authorities to my Department at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/DogControl/.
My Department is not provided with the names and addresses of dog breeding establishments or the number of breeding bitches and puppies.
Each local authority’s register of dog breeding establishments must include the address of each dog breeding establishment in its functional area and the maximum number of breeding bitches that may be kept. There is no requirement to include information on the number of puppies. Accordingly, details in relation to individual dog breeding establishments should be sought from the local authority concerned.
