Written Answers Nos. 776-87
776. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the necessary steps to be undertaken by a local authority in declaring and registering a site or property as a dangerous structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23375/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legislative provisions relating to dangerous structures are set out in the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964. The Act sets out the powers available to local authorities in relation to dangerous structures. The definition of a “dangerous structure” for the purposes of the Act means "(a) any building, wall or other structure of any kind, or (b) any part of, or anything attached to, a building, wall or other structure of any kind, that, in the opinion of the sanitary authority in whose sanitary district it is situate, is or is likely to be dangerous to any person or property”.
The powers available to local authorities in relation to dangerous structures under the Act are quite broad-ranging and include (i) giving notice to an owner or an occupier of a dangerous structure to carry out such works (including the demolition of the structure or the clearing and levelling of the site) specified in the notice to prevent it from being a dangerous structure, to remove any debris and to erect a wall or barrier between any open area created by the works and any road, street or public place, and to terminate or modify any use of the structure or part of the structure, (ii) carrying out the necessary works itself, (iii) seeking an order from the District Court directing the owner or occupier to carry out the necessary specified works where such works have not been carried out by the owner or occupier, or an authorisation from the District Court to carry out the works itself, and (iv) requiring the occupier of, or any person in, a dangerous structure or its curtilage to vacate the structure.
Any person who contravenes specific provisions of the Act may be prosecuted by the local authority in whose functional area the offence is committed.
777. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options available to a local authority in pursuing the parties or persons responsible for a derelict site, and its demolition; if levies or fines are applied in such cases; the options that are available to pursue these parties or persons responsible to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23376/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Derelict Sites Act 1990 requires that local authorities take all reasonable steps to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. The definition of a “derelict site” for the purposes of the Act “ means any land which detracts, or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of—
(a) the existence on the land in question of structures which are in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous condition, or
(b) the neglected, unsightly or objectionable condition of the land or any structures on the land in question, or
(c) the presence, deposit or collection on the land in question of any litter, rubbish, debris or waste, except where the presence, deposit or collection of such litter, rubbish, debris or waste results from the exercise of a right conferred by statute or by common law”.
Local authorities have substantial powers under the Act, including powers (i) to establish a register of derelict sites in their functional areas, (ii) requiring owners or occupiers of sites to take specific measures which the authority considers necessary to address the dereliction within specified timeframes, (iii) to acquire a site by agreement or compulsorily in certain circumstances, and (iv) to impose a derelict sites levy on registered sites in urban areas or other areas prescribed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to be an urban area for the purposes of the Act. The Act further provides that where the owner or occupier of a derelict site does not carry out the works as required by the local authority , the local authority has the power to carry out the works and recover any costs incurred from the owners or occupiers of the site. Section 23 of the Act provides that where a levy is being applied, the rate of levy shall be three per cent of the market value of the site as determined by the local authority. Derelict sites may be acquired by a local authority for any purpose connected with their functions.
Any person who contravenes specific provisions of the Act may be prosecuted by the local authority in whose functional area the offence is committed, and on conviction be subject to a fine and/ or a term of imprisonment. The amount of fine or term of imprisonment that may be imposed is a matter for the Court and is dependent on whether the person is convicted summarily or on indictment.
778. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the rolling out of the Leader programme; when local groups and businesses will be able to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23389/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. Under stage one of the selection process for the new programme, any entity who wished to be considered as a Local Action Group was invited to submit an expression of interest. For the purposes of the new programme, there are 28 sub-regional areas in Ireland and 45 separate expressions of interest were received. A single expression of interest has been received in 17 of the 28 areas and at least 2 expressions of interest have been received in the remaining 11 areas. In areas where multiple expressions of interest were received, my Department has given an undertaking to facilitate discussions between the relevant entities with a view to engaging all parties and if possible to reach an agreement to develop one coherent local development strategy for their area. In this regard, my Department commenced meetings recently with a range of entities and these will continue over the coming period.
In the meantime, I expect that all the expressions of interest will be presented to an Independent Evaluation Committee for assessment and decision by late June. On foot of this, preparatory support will be made available to all eligible Local Action Groups selected by the Committee. The Groups will then be provided with a minimum of 6 months to develop their strategies but I expect some strategies to be submitted much earlier than this.
The Independent Evaluation Committee will also assess and make the final decisions with regard to the quality of the local development strategies. In areas where a single strategy is submitted, the Committee in question will review and evaluate these strategies with a view to ensuring that the strategies meet the required standard. In areas where entities do not come to an agreement and multiple strategies are submitted, it will be a matter for the Evaluation Committee to a make a decision on which local development strategy best meets the needs of the community. I anticipate that the new programme will be operational in some areas by Autumn 2015 and hopefully in all communities by early 2016.
779. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered an incentive scheme to encourage home-scale waste treatment plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23395/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority, to require repair or upgrading. The qualification criteria are set out in the legislation and full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,33607,en.pdf.
I have no plans to extend or vary the qualifying criteria of the domestic waste water treatment system grants scheme , nor have I any plans introduce incentives regarding treatment systems for household waste.
780. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical or career break, broken down by zero to six months, six months to 12 months, one year to two years, two years to three years, four years to five years and five years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23403/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested in relation to staff of my Department on career break is set out in the following table:
|
Duration |
No of Staff |
|
0 - 6 months |
0 |
|
6 - 12 months |
0 |
|
1 - 2 years |
5 |
|
2 - 3 years |
2 |
|
4 - 5 years |
1 |
|
5 years+ |
2 |
781. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form, by year, the total photography costs for his Department since coming into office, inclusive of the costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; if he will provide the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23419/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department’s Press Office generally provides photographic services when required, the services of external photographers were engaged on 4 occasions since I came to office. The details are set out in the following table:
|
2014 |
Launch of Social Housing Strategy |
Maxwell Photography |
€551 |
|
2015 |
Rural policy launch in Caherciveen |
MacMonagle Photography |
€369 |
|
2015 |
Social Housing Construction Programme |
Kenny Photo Graphics |
€107.83 |
|
2015 |
Launch of Diversity Award 2015 |
Redmonds of Roscrea |
€246.00 |
The practice will continue to be to utilise the Department’s Press Office for most photographic services.
782. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form, by year, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming into office; if he will provide the list of uses of the external public relations firm and the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23435/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not engaged any external public relations firms since my coming into office. In relation to my Department’s policy for the engagement of external expertise, this is generally only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department.
783. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount spent on external information technology consultants by his Department in each of the years 2010 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23451/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra786. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has renegotiated external information technology consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23568/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 786 together.
A range of contracts are in place in my Department for the provision of ICT services including training, software and storage provision. My Department has engaged an external company for the provision of training and continuing professional development of its ICT Unit. Expenditure incurred in the years 2010 to 2014 was €45,133, €80,586, €84,378, €57,934.56 and €19,311 respectively. The contract expired in 2014 and no expenditure has been incurred during 2015. In addition, a review of Disaster Recovery capabilities was commissioned in 2012 which incurred costs of €9,362. Neither contract has been renegotiated since March 2011.
784. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the protocols in place since March 2011 to set standards in parliamentary replies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23499/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra785. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that parliamentary questions are adequately replied to within his Department; the steps he has taken since March 2011 to ensure parliamentary questions are fully responded to within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23515/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 784 and 785 together.
I am satisfied that Parliamentary Questions are appropriately replied to within my Department. Replies are prepared in line with protocols detailed in Dáil Éireann’s Standing Orders Relative to Public Business and, in addition, general guidance is available to staff in my Department, to ensure an efficient service in the provision of replies to Parliamentary Questions.
787. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in respect of State boards under his Department's remit, the number of appointments to State boards; the number of vacancies in State boards; the number of vacancies in State boards publicly advertised; and the number of appointments to State boards drawn directly from the public advertisement process, in the period March 2011 to date in 2015. [23584/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince July 2011, my Department’s website has been used as the primary mechanism for seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of State bodies under my Department’s aegis. In line with a Government Decision last Autumn, a Revised Model for Ministerial Appointments to State Boards, brought forward by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has been put in place, operating through the Public Appointments Service, and will govern relevant future appointments. Under the revised model expressions of interest are now made directly by registering on Stateboards.ie. My Department’s website has been amended to refer any interested party to the Stateboards website.
Details in relation to appointments made since 2011 are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
