Written Answers Nos. 579-600
579. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the total number of new schools on greenfield sites or replacements for existing deficient structures approved, funded and completed in the past five years; the extent to which she expects this to continue in the course of the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26402/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of 129 new schools were completed over the five year period 2010 to 2014. This total number comprises 93 new primary schools and 36 new post-primary schools.
For the immediate future the Deputy will be aware from the school building programme announcement last December that there are a total of 196 large scale projects either at construction or with approval to advance to construction. These large scale projects include 91 new primary schools and 29 new post-primary schools.
My Department continues to review the most up-to-date demographic information to ensure any emerging school accommodation shortfalls are identified and met in a timely manner. In this regard, the Department is currently carrying out a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where school places might be needed from 2017 onwards. On foot of this review, arrangements will be made to provide additional accommodation where this is needed.
580. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the number of incidents of school bullying reported or brought to her attention in primary and secondary schools, by county, over the past four years; the extent to which all such cases were adequately and satisfactorily resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26403/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no requirement on schools to report bullying incidents to my Department.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department published new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year. These procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. All Boards of Management are required to adopt and implement an anti-bullying policy that fully complies with the requirements of the procedures. A template anti-bullying policy which must be used by all schools for this purpose is included in the procedures.
The procedures outline key principles of best practice for both preventing and tackling bullying and require all schools to commit to these principles in their anti-bullying policy. In particular, they emphasise that a cornerstone in the prevention of bullying is a positive school culture. In that regard, the procedures set out the need for schools to encourage and strengthen open dialogue between all school staff and pupils and to ensure they provide appropriate opportunities for pupils to raise their concerns in an environment that is comfortable for the pupil.
The procedures also recognise the importance of good supervision and monitoring systems to prevent bullying and facilitate early intervention. The school's anti-bullying policy must explicitly confirm that appropriate supervision and monitoring policies and practices are in place to both prevent and deal with bullying behaviour.
In relation to reporting bullying behaviour, the procedures make clear that a pupil or parent may bring a bullying concern to any teacher in the school and individual teachers must take appropriate measures regarding reports of bullying behaviour in accordance with the school's anti-bullying policy. The procedures require that all reports, including anonymous reports of bullying, must be investigated and dealt with and that it should be made clear to all pupils that when they report incidents of bullying they are not considered to be telling tales but are behaving responsibly. The procedures include specific requirements in relation to the consistent investigation, follow up and recording of bullying behaviour amongst pupils. There is a requirement in the procedures for the school Principal to report regularly to the Board of Management in relation to the overall number of bullying cases and provide confirmation that they are being dealt with in accordance with the anti-bullying procedures.
The Board is also required, under the procedures, to undertake an annual review of the school's anti-bullying policy and its implementation by the school. Written confirmation that the review has been completed must be made available to the Parents' Association and published on the school website. Arising from commitments made in the Action Plan on Bullying, my Department's Inspectorate is placing a stronger focus on the actions schools take to create a positive school culture and to prevent and tackle bullying. For example, parent and student questionnaires issued as part of whole school evaluations, include, since January 2014, additional questions to get a clearer picture of how the school deals with bullying. Furthermore, the Inspectorate's plan for 2015 provides for collaborative research to be conducted in a sample of primary and post primary schools on how schools provide for pupils' well-being. This will culminate in a research report which will highlight best practice. This is also an issue that will need to be considered in the context of developing a Parent and Students Charter that each school will be obliged to have. An important aspect of the Charter will be how parents receive information and feedback on the operation of school policies and how parents concerns are addressed.
582. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the total number of special needs teachers currently available throughout County Kildare at primary and secondary level; the extent to which this may be augmented on foot of already documented requirements, as set out by the various local school authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26405/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra583. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the total number of special needs assistants currently available at primary and second level throughout County Kildare; the extent to which it is expected to augment these numbers in line with submitted requests from school authorities in the course of the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26406/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 583 together.
There are now more additional teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) supporting children with special educational needs in our schools than at any time previously. The NCSE allocated 6,454 resource teacher posts to schools for September 2015, which is an increase of 554 posts - or 9.4% - since September 2014. Details of resource teaching allocations to schools is available on the NCSE website on a county by county basis at www.ncse.ie.
An additional 149 special classes will open in September which brings to over 1,000, the number of special classes in mainstream schools and represents a 17% increase over the 2014/15 number of special classes. Details of special class teachers and special school allocations for 2015/16 is available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie. In addition, 11,330 SNA posts, an increase of 365 posts, or over 3%, are available to the NCSE to allocate to the end of 2015. This is the highest level of special needs teachers and SNA support that we have ever had, and will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.
Details of the number of SNA and Resource Teachers which have been allocated to each school are published on a per county basis on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie, which provides details of all of the SNA and Resource Teacher allocations which have been made to each school in County Kildare by the NCSE. Details of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 school year Resource Teaching allocations have been published.
This year, the NCSE requested all schools to submit applications for SNA support by mid March 2015. Following this deadline each application had to be assessed by the NCSE before they were in a position to advise the Minister on the quantum of SNAs that would need to be allocated to schools for the coming school year. The final advice on this was received last week, and the Minister will be seeking to confirm allocations to schools over the next ten days. Details of SNA allocations to schools for 2015/16 will be available on the NCSE website on completion of this process.
585. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the degree to which she remains satisfied with her ability, and the need, to provide for smaller rural denominational schools, with particular reference to adhering to traditional commitments, while at the same time introducing an adequate degree of modernisation to secure a high standard and quality of education throughout the primary sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26408/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website. The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools. These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small schools that are more than 8 km from the next nearest school of the same type.
This package of measures will provide rural communities with security about the future of their small schools, recognising the essential social function which small schools can play, especially in isolated communities. These improvements in the Staffing Schedule for small schools are the only changes that I am making to the staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year.
586. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the extent to which she has received submissions from the various primary school authorities with specific reference to achieving equality in the provisions, whereby an increase on the present level or maintenance of the present level of teaching numbers may be achieved, with particular reference to smaller rural schools, some of which find themselves disadvantaged under the current system; if her Department has received specific recommendations in this regard from the Irish National Teachers Organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26409/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website. The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools. These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small schools that are more than 8 km from the next nearest school of the same type. These improvements in the Staffing Schedule for small schools are the only changes that I am making to the staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year.
Since becoming Minister, each of the education partners that I have met have indicated their own set of priorities. In the school sector these priorities include school leadership, pay restoration, reductions in pupil-teacher ratios, increases to capitation, and the restoration of ex-quota guidance counsellors in schools. Outside of the schools sector, the list of demands includes funding of third level, investment in early years and investment in technology. It is not, and never will be, possible to satisfy all of the demands of the education system at one time. Hence the need to identify priorities for consideration as part of future budgets and as our economy recovers.
587. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine anomalies in respect of rules to maintain the existing teacher numbers or to increase the number of teachers on foot of enrolments in a number of rural schools, some of which find themselves at a disadvantage in their efforts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26410/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website. The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools. These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small schools that are more than 8 km from the next nearest school of the same type.
This package of measures will provide rural communities with security about the future of their small schools, recognising the essential social function which small schools can play, especially in isolated communities. These improvements in the Staffing Schedule for small schools are the only changes that I am making to the staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year.
588. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her willingness to continue her support for smaller urban or rural schools with a denominational ethos; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26411/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy recent announcement of two new policy measures to better support the sustainability of small schools clearly shows my support for the smaller schools. The first measure provides for improved teacher retention thresholds to be introduced for some small schools commencing in the next school year. It also provides for an improved teacher appointment threshold for isolated one-teacher schools. These are schools that are more than 8 km distant from the next nearest school of the same type of patronage and language of instruction. The second measure is the development of a voluntary amalgamation protocol for the very smallest schools that have reducing enrolments and are located within an 8 km distance of a school of similar patronage and language of instruction. Both these measures are intended to provide rural communities with security about the future of their small schools.
589. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the extent to which a deficit in student accommodation has been identified in the catchment areas of the various third level institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26412/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra590. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the extent to which a dearth of student accommodation has been identified in the vicinity of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth; her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26413/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 590 together.
I appreciate that there are concerns regarding the availability of accommodation for students in certain parts of the country and for that reason I have asked the HEA to report on this issue. The HEA are currently working on a draft report on student accommodation which will be available shortly and will give us an up to date picture of the situation. In that context, I will continue to work with Government colleagues and stakeholders to explore ways to increase the availability of student accommodation where needed. Many of our third-level institutions are currently working to develop additional accommodation for their students, which will help to address the issue in the medium term.
In the longer term, the Government is committed to addressing the housing shortage through the Construction 2020 strategy. This will not resolve all of our problems immediately, but I am confident that the implementation of Construction 2020 will provide us with a sustainable housing stock in the medium to longer term.
591. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the extent to which she expects to be in a position to include the Hewetson School development in Clane, County Kildare in the five-year development plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26414/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for the replacement of a school gymnasium with a new facility.
As the Deputy will be aware, the school's request must be considered in the context of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in my Department's Five Year Capital investment programme, to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school classroom accommodation to meet demographic demand. In this context, it is not possible to indicate at this point when a building project for the school in question will be progressed. The current status of all schools on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
592. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the progress made to date in determining the response to the submissions made by the various school authorities promoting the need for a Gaelchólásite in north Kildare which will serve the areas of Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge, Kilcock and the wider area; when it is expected the proposal will be advanced further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26415/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently examining the extent and location of additional post-primary places that will be needed on a nationwide basis from 2017 onwards. This will include an examination of the north Kildare area. A submission received from a Patron body in relation to all-Irish provision in north Kildare will be taken into consideration as part of this examination. In the meantime, my Department has clearly indicated that it is open to the idea of the establishment of an independent Gaelchólásite for the north Kildare area. My Department has already committed to consider this if sufficient and viable demand for education through the medium of Irish in an Aonad in a post-primary school in the area is demonstrated over a four-year cycle.
593. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the extent to which Student Universal Support Ireland continues to deal adequately with the administration of higher education grants; the number and nature of cases outstanding in respect of previous years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26416/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by SUSI that it received circa 104,000 applications for the 2014/15 academic year. As at 26 June 2015, 51 applications for the 2014/15 academic year have yet to be finalised. Of these, SUSI is awaiting documentation from the applicant in 33 cases, with the remaining 18 cases currently being reviewed by SUSI. The majority of these cases have already received a decision from SUSI and are currently the subject of an appeal/internal review. A small number of cases are awaiting a final decision due to the exceptional nature of the case or where a late application has been made.
Over the past two years, SUSI has dealt successfully with significant increases in the overall number of new and renewal applications whilst improving the quality of its service on an ongoing basis. SUSI has streamlined and simplified its grant application processes and improved its communications, stakeholder management and the customer experience. In particular, improved data sharing arrangements with other Departments and agencies have facilitated more accurate verification of information and significantly reduced the documentation burden for applicants.
594. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if pounds are allowed refuse to re-home dogs by virtue of their breed; if pounds are permitted to hide dogs and not advertise their existence in the pound, for whatever reason; and the reason dogs surrendered by owners are not included in the pound register and are treated differently from stray dogs. [25744/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Questions Nos 602 and 603 of 23 June 2015. Section 11(7) of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 gives the local authority discretion, after 5 days following the making of an entry in the register, to dispose of or destroy in a humane manner, stray dogs unclaimed by their owner having given notice to that owner or person in charge of the dog, if such owner or other person is known or can be readily ascertained.
Details of all dogs seized by a dog warden of a local authority, and dogs detained by another person and notified to the dog warden, must be entered into the register maintained in accordance with section 14 of the Act as an aid to persons whose dogs have strayed or otherwise been lost. As unwanted dogs have been surrendered by the owner, there would be no similar purpose served by requiring their details to be included in the register. The register is open for inspection at all reasonable times by any interested person.
595. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the electoral register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26544/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra596. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding an online registration system for the electoral register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26545/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra631. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on a position paper (details supplied) and the recommendations contained therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26292/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra635. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on developing an online registration facility for the electoral register. [26307/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra636. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on having a rolling electoral register, rather than one with set annual deadlines. [26308/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra637. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out his views on standardising practices in the processing of applications for inclusion in the electoral register across the various local authorities; and his plans to issue guidelines on this matter (details supplied). [26309/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 595, 596, 631 and 635 to 637, inclusive, together.
The June 2015 position paper of the Union of Students of Ireland - Voter Registration Reform, referred to in Question 631, sets out a number of recommendations in relation to the register of electors and on wider electoral matters which I have noted. The recommendations made regarding the register of electors include recommendations regarding the online registration of voters and on a rolling electoral register in place of the existing registration arrangements. In law, the preparation of the register of electors is a matter for each local authority as a registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register.
While I have no immediate plans for reviewing the ‘checktheregister.ie’ facility or for the introduction of an online or rolling register of electors in place of the existing registration arrangements, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an Electoral Commission to subsume functions of existing bodies and my Department. On 27 January 2015 I published a consultation paper to commence the pre-legislative process leading to the establishment of an Electoral Commission. One of the issues identified for consideration in the consultation paper is the role that an Electoral Commission might play in respect of the register of electors.
The consultation paper is being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht who are now engaged in a public consultation process in relation to the consultation paper. I understand that public hearings are to conclude before the end of July. A report is to be submitted to me on the outcomes from the consultation process as soon as possible thereafter and that will inform the development of an Electoral Commission Bill.
On the question of standardising practices by registration authorities in the performance of their registration duties, my Department issued guidance on preparing and maintaining the register of electors in May 2006 and will keep the need for further guidance under review. On the specific issue of deletion of existing names on the register, the Guidance advises that a name which appeared on a previous register should not be omitted solely on the grounds that the name is not included in the list of names furnished in respect of the household on the relevant form for the register being compiled. The Guidance advises that checks be carried out in such cases.
597. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his plans to incentivise the increased supply of residential property available on the rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25719/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra625. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26030/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 625 together.
The private rental sector has grown to become a major component of the housing market, meeting the accommodation needs of approximately one-fifth of all households. Close to one-third of households living in the sector are in receipt of housing support in the form of rent supplement or other State support and so the sector is of key importance for the provision of social housing also. This is recognised in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 goal to meet the needs of 75,000 households in the sector, primarily through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme.
With regard to the housing market, Construction 2020: A Strategy for A Renewed Construction Sector sets out the Government’s plans to address a number of issues being faced in the property and construction market and to address blockages in the system in order to get the market moving and increase supply. This includes facilitating the sustainable and professional development of the private rented sector.
Historically, the private rented sector in Ireland has been characterised by small-scale landlords. Attracting large-scale investment in professionally managed residential property, for example using Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and other options for long-term investment, can have an important role to play in helping to deliver the professional high-standard sector that tenants deserve.
The acquisition and management of properties by professional REITs is part of a more sustainable, long-term property rental market for both investors and tenants. While commercial property investment has been a key focus for some of the REITs launched to date in Ireland, residential property also forms part of the sector’s interest and exposure. For example, since its launch in April 2014, Irish Residential Properties REIT, the first Irish REIT with a primarily residential property investment focus, has built up a portfolio of high quality Dublin residential properties. The sector is expected to continue to develop over time and in so doing to increase the supply of professionally managed, good quality, secure and affordable rented accommodation.
Following on from the commitment in Construction 2020 to develop a national policy towards professionalising the private rental sector, the Social Housing Strategy includes an action (Action 35) to continue work on the development of this policy with the aim of increasing investment in and supporting the supply of, good quality, secure and affordable rental accommodation. The timeline for this is the fourth quarter of 2015.
The governance structure established to ensure that the actions in the Social Housing Strategy are overseen and delivered includes five workstreams or working groups, each with a specific focus. The development of the policy on the private rented sector is taking place in the context of Workstream 5 which includes officials from my Department and the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform as well as representatives of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), the Housing Agency and the local authority sector.
In the period since the publication of Construction 2020, a number of reports on the future of the private rented sector have been published. Notably these include two reports by DKM Economic Consultants commissioned by the PRTB and a series of reports from NESC including Social Housing at the Crossroads: Possibilities for Investment, Provision and Cost Rental and most recently, Ireland’s Private Rental Sector: Pathways to Secure Occupancy and Affordable Supply.
The latter report calls for more secure occupancy for tenants, including greater rent certainty as well as measures to increase the supply of rental housing. The recommendations put forward in these reports will be considered carefully in the context of framing a national policy on the private rented sector. My overriding objective in relation to rents is to achieve stability and sustainability in the market for the benefit of tenants, landlords and society as a whole.
598. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to concerns raised by homeowners, if he, Dublin Fire Brigade or the relevant local authority has received a fire safety report on a development (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if he is aware that the contents of the audit have not been made available in full to homeowners in the development; if he accepts that should there be deficiencies homeowners cannot rectify them, given that the report is being withheld from them by the management company; the rights homeowners have to receive this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25725/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart B (Fire safety) of the Building Regulations, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document B, sets down clearly the statutory minimum standards of fire safety provision which must be achieved when a new building is designed and constructed or when an existing building is subject to works involving an extension, a material alteration or a material change of use. A Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) is also required before construction work commences and it may be illegal to operate a building without having a valid fire safety certificate in place where one is required. In addition, section 18(2) of the Fire Services Act 1981 (as amended) imposes a duty on the persons in control of a premises to ensure the safety of persons on the premises in the event of a potential outbreak of fire. Where the Fire Authority (in this case Dublin Fire Brigade) has concerns regarding the fire safety arrangements of a building, it may require the owner to carry out a fire safety assessment of the premises.
I understand that following complaints regarding pyrite and possible related fire safety concerns in the development concerned, Dublin Fire Brigade wrote to the Management Company requesting a fire risk assessment in January 2013. A report by Fire Safety Consultants following a fire compliance inspection of the common means of escape from these apartments was subsequently received and identified a scope of remedial works to be undertaken including works relating to fire detection, emergency lighting and fire-stopping. The Fire Safety Consultants engaged on behalf of the Management Company have confirmed to Dublin Fire Brigade that the necessary remedial works have been completed.
I understand that the report in question was commissioned by the Management Company and any question of its wider circulation is a matter for that company. The provisions of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 set out the means by which problems relating to the ownership and management of the common areas of both existing and new multi-unit developments can be addressed. The Act also aims to facilitate the fair and effective management of those bodies responsible for the management of such areas. The Multi-Unit Development Act 2011 falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.
599. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will arrange for a final response to be issued in relation to documentation (details supplied) provided for his Department. [25726/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA reply has now issued in relation to the correspondence concerned.
600. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to give details of the persons and bodies responsible for the main sewers servicing housing estates that run underneath gardens. [25740/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services Act 2007 provides that the property owner is responsible for the maintenance and replacement of any water or wastewater pipes, connections or distribution systems which are located within the boundary of their property. Responsibility for the repair of pipes under publicly owned roadways and pathways is a matter for Irish Water.
