Written Answers Nos. 184-191
184. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the 121 vacant council houses unoccupied throughout County Sligo; how and when these will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34777/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very conscious of the need to have all vacant social housing that is lettable made available to those on housing waiting lists. For that reason, my Department is providing funding support to Sligo County Council, and to all other local authorities, to return all lettable vacant social housing units that they have identified to productive use.
My Department has no involvement in the allocation of social housing; this is a matter for individual local authorities.
185. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria that void housing units should meet to be considered eligible for void refurbishment funding from his Department, for example, the state of repair and disrepair the void would have to be in. [34779/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current programme of funding support which my Department provides for local authorities to return vacant social housing units to productive use is directed at units where the cost of remediation greatly exceeds the cost of the normal end-of-lease maintenance. Support under the programme is capped at €30,000 of Department funding per unit and has a particular focus on increasing the energy efficiency of the remediated units.
The programme is not a substitute for the normal responsibilities of local authorities for maintaining their social housing properties and, therefore, the standard end-of-lease maintenance they undertake will be sufficient in some cases to prepare a unit for early re-letting. Given the need to respond to waiting lists, it is important that the time taken to return vacant units is kept to the minimum.
186. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34786/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets required quality standards.
Responsibility for replacing lead pipes or fittings within the property boundaries, including within the house itself, therefore rests with the homeowner. In a joint position paper on lead published by the EPA and HSE in 2013, it is recommended that all lead pipes and plumbing in public and in private ownership should be replaced over time. The joint position paper also recommends that persons in premises with lead piping should, in the meantime, flush the supply at the kitchen tap first thing in the morning before using it. The full document is available to download from the HSE’s website at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/hl/water/drinkingwater/lead/HSE_EPA_JointPositionPaperLeadinDrinkingWater.pdf.
On 9 June 2015, I announced a Government-approved National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. The Strategy was prepared by my Department and the Department of Health in consultation with Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA, in order to map the scale of the problem and identify measures to mitigate any risks to human health posed by lead in drinking water. As part of the Strategy, I will be establishing a new grant aid scheme to assist low income households to replace lead pipes in their homes. Funding for the scheme will be finalised in the context of Budget 2016 and it is envisaged that the scheme will be administered by the local authorities. Income thresholds and other eligibility criteria will apply and the terms and conditions of the new scheme will be publicised as soon as they are finalised.
187. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reform the by-election process for Seanad Éireann, whereby only Members of the Oireachtas have a vote. [34794/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no immediate plans to amend the provisions in the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947 relating to the arrangements for bye elections for the filling of casual vacancies.
189. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for an update and date for approval of an application for additional funding by a housing association (details supplied) in County Limerick under the capital assistance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34824/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department wrote to Limerick City & County Council on 18 August 2015 informing them of the approval of a revised budget for this project.
190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason ten of the 16 social housing units at St. Lawrence’s Park in Stillorgan, County Dublin are empty and are not being considered or offered for social housing at a time of unprecedented demand for such units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34859/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has informed me that the site of St. Laurence Park, Stillorgan is identified for major development, which is intended to provide for a significant number of residential units in the area, including social units.
191. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when an application by an organisation (details supplied) under the capital assistance scheme will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34863/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis project was approved for funding under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme in 2012 and is nearing completion.
My Department is working with Limerick City & County Council to agree the final account for the project and correspondence on this aspect issued to the Council on 25 September 2015.
