Written Answers Nos. 419-436
419. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the circumstances in which Leader funding can deliver training courses at no cost, when such courses have been provided locally by a commercial training company; if the Leader company should tender the delivery of such courses; the requirements of that process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35352/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in line with the 'bottom-up' approach to rural development, there are 34 Local Action Groups contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 throughout the country.
Training activities are currently funded through a specific training measure under the LEADER programme. This measure has the objective of equipping rural dwellers and communities with an appropriate range of skills and training. It should be noted that the Local Action Group are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding, including for the training measure. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with the rules and regulations governing the programme, including displacement and public procurement requirements.
It is a basic principle of public procurement that a competitive process should be used unless there are justifiably exceptional circumstances. The type of competitive process can vary depending on the size and characteristics of the contract to be awarded and the nature of the contracting authority. Where projects are undertaken by the Local Action Group itself or by associated companies, the projects must be subject to the same evaluation process and scrutiny as outside promoters.
To ensure value for money in respect of projects run by the Local Action Group, a check must be completed to determine whether a more cost effective delivery of the project/service may be available. To this end, the Local Action Group must publicly advertise/seek quotations from outside providers to ensure that at all times that there is a clear competitive situation.
420. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to give direction to local authorities that a condition of planning of all new housing developments includes e-fibre connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35355/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not aware of any problems in relation to the provision of connectivity for broadband in new developments, but I understand that the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources wishes to meet with my Department to discuss a number of matters of interest to both our Departments. My Department will be happy to facilitate such a meeting at an early date.
421. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the local authorities that recently received an extra tranche of funding for housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability; the respective funding allocated recently for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35362/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo additional funding to particular local authorities has been announced recently for the Housing Adaptation Grant schemes. Details of the 2015 allocations which I made earlier this year are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/GeneralNews/MainBody,41581,en.htm.
422. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support the issues listed in the policy for climate change (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35395/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no remit as regards the matter set out at (a) in the details supplied, while the matters at (b) to (f) come within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and the matter at (g) falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
423. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of social housing units that have been newly constructed and refurbished under the Limerick regeneration scheme in each year from 2007 to 2015 to date. [35420/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table sets out the number of social housing units that have been refurbished and newly constructed under the Limerick regeneration programme from 2007 to date in 2015.
|
- |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Refurbished Units |
74 |
90 |
76 |
88 |
138 |
107 |
86 |
118 |
186 |
|
New Build Units |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
34 |
64 |
10 |
424. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost per modular housing unit; the size of the units per square meter; and the facilities available in each unit. [35422/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPreparations for the procurement by public tender of suitable housing solutions for homeless families are currently being made by Dublin City Council as the lead authority for homelessness in the Dublin region. My Department is liaising closely with Dublin City Council in relation to this matter. Detailed specifications are currently being prepared. The objective is to secure good quality, self-contained homes suitable for family living with living space, kitchen and bathroom facilities and two or three bedrooms.
425. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35432/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe arrangements in place for the control of building activity have been greatly strengthened in recent times. The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 now require greater accountability for compliance with the Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and validation and registration of certificates. These regulations place a strong emphasis on competence, professionalism and quality in relation to the design and construction of works and buildings. I am satisfied that they will foster a climate of quality and compliance within the construction industry thereby ensuring that homeowners and clients can rely on getting the high quality homes and buildings they expect and deserve.
Any consumer engaging a builder to undertake building works on their behalf should as a minimum satisfy themselves that the builder is competent to undertake the works concerned (on the basis of having satisfactorily undertaken similar works for others); is tax compliant; is compliant with relevant requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act; and is prepared to sign a contract which may be enforced by civil means should that be necessary.
The Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) has been established as a voluntary register of builders, contractors and specialist trade persons by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). I understand that over 750 construction entities are currently included on the register which is available online at www.ciri.ie. Under the Construction 2020 strategy, the Government has signalled its commitment to placing the register on a statutory footing. This is seen as an essential consumer protection measure giving consumers who engage a registered builder the assurance that they are dealing with a competent and compliant operator. Legislative proposals in this regard are currently being prepared by my Department with a view to their being presented to Government for consideration in the near future.
426. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money allocated to each local authority for the refurbishment or renovation of housing stock over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35434/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible .
427. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made in the provision of planning legislation to ensure more universal design of buildings, in order that persons can access buildings, regardless of age or ability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35444/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe concept of Universal Design centres on achieving a built environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size or disability. In the context of our national Building Regulations, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010 and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out the minimum statutory requirements applicable to new buildings, and to existing buildings where new works, a material alteration or a material change of use is proposed, in order to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. The requirements of Part M aim to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability:
(a) new buildings other than dwellings are accessible and usable;
(b) extensions to existing buildings other than dwellings are, where practicable, accessible and useable;
(c) material alterations to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable;
(d) certain changes of use to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable, and
(e) new dwellings are visitable.
While the upgraded Part M /TGD M 2010 requirement initially coincided with the general downturn in economic and construction activity, its positive effects on access and use in the built environment will now be seen more widely as economic recovery takes hold. Building Regulations, including Part M requirements, are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and wellbeing of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of technological progress and innovation.
428. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding business rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35476/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function. Rates income is a very important contribution to the cost of services provided by local authorities such as roads, public lighting, development control, parks and open spaces. Locally elected members adopt the annual rate on valuation they consider necessary in order to provide the required services. I am aware of the continued need to restrain the costs for businesses. My Department has in recent years requested local authorities to exercise restraint in setting, and where possible to reduce, ARVs and they have responded positively in this regard. The national average ARV decreased each year from 2010 to 2014; 2015 is not directly comparable due to the local authority mergers and the necessity to harmonise rates across new local authority areas.
The local government reform programme requires authorities to harmonise ARVs across former rating authorities within each of the restructured 31 local authorities within a 10 year period, generally. This will ultimately result in one ARV being in place for each of the 31 authorities. The 10 year timeframe was put in place to ensure that there would be a gradual adjustment to all businesses affected and also to minimise the impact on local authorities’ funding levels.
I will continue to keep the approach to rates by local authorities under active review, and am determined that every avenue will be pursued to optimise efficiency and contain costs in the local government sector.
429. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps required by the European Commission to allow the Irish Government declare the homeless crisis an emergency; if this declaration would speed up the public procurement process when building social housing, not just modular housing; if this declaration would allow the Government to fund the building of social housing, not just modular housing, off balance sheet; if he has made any contact with the Commission on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35504/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 590 of 29 September, 2015 which sets out the position in this matter.
430. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 which provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses, along incremental purchase lines; when this will be introduced, as it was promised for second quarter of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35525/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra431. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1427 of 22 September 2015, the progress on the regulations for a tenant purchase scheme; and if there is a likely time frame for when such regulations will be made. [35537/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.
The necessary Regulations for the new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines are at an advanced stage and are expected to be finalised and signed by end October.
432. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the national fire service to be able to use the Eircode location system in its fire vehicles and emergency vehicles, to identify individual addresses when responding to emergency calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35583/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fire Service is reviewing the first generation of communications and information systems for the fire services in Ireland, known collectively as CAMP (Computer Aided Mobilisation Projects ). As part of this review process, known as C-Trí, consideration will be given to the introduction or replacement of mobile data systems in appliances the service will be upgrading in the coming years. It is intended that as systems are replaced they may be capable of facilitating Eircode.
Of course, an Eircode will be used as an addition to a current address and not as a replacement, so all Emergency Services will always ask for an address. Also, in many cases, unless the caller is very familiar with the Incident Site, that caller may be unaware of the site's Eircode and only know the address.
433. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding allocated in 2015 to social housing in the Dún Laoghaire constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35590/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra434. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money that has been allocated in 2015 to social housing in the Dún Laoghaire constituency, for persons with intellectual disabilities who require residential supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35591/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.
Social housing is a key priority for this Government, as evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for it in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November 2014. The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the circa 90,000 households on the housing waiting lists.
Social housing targets have been set for each local authority out to 2017, including Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, and these are available on my Department’s website, along with the associated provisional funding allocations, at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41016,en.htm.
The targets set and the funding allocated are being invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes by local authorities designed to accommodate 25% of those currently on the housing waiting lists.
In line with the targets set for social housing delivery, I announced a major social housing construction programme on 5 May 2015, with €312m investment covering all 31 local authorities and with over 1,700 housing units to be built. In July I announced a further investment of over €180 million to deliver over 1,100 new social housing units. This included over €150 million in approvals under the Capital Assistance Scheme which supports Approved Housing Bodies in the provision of new housing units for homeless persons, for the elderly and for people with disabilities including intellectual disabilities.
Details of the projects approved in May and July, including those approved for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area, are available on my Department’s website at the following links: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm.http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,42225,en.htm.
In May 2015, I also announced over €91 million worth of social housing investment to be used across a range of schemes to make more social housing available and to improve housing for people with disabilities, as well as retrofitting homes to improve energy efficiency. Details of these allocations, including for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area, are available on my Department’s website at the following link:http://www.environ.ie/en/GeneralNews/MainBody,41581,en.htm.
435. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the meetings or proposed meetings planned with an organisation (details supplied) in regard to independent living, housing exchange, adaption grants, etc. to meet the needs of their members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35598/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the social benefit accruing from the Housing Adaptation grant schemes that my Department funds in terms of facilitating the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability. While no specific meetings are planned with the organisation in question, I am happy to consider representations on behalf of any group of people who benefit from the Adaptation grants and I am always keen to ensure that this grant aid reaches those most in need.
436. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding was returned to his Department after the last round of Leader, as part of the rural development programme; and if he is aware of any areas with underspend. [35611/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll of the funding available under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 has been fully allocated and it is expected that expenditure over the full period of the Programme will be in the order of €370 million by the end 2015. It should be noted, however, that the full financial position for the Programme will not be fully known until after the Programme has been officially closed during the first half of 2016.
