Written Answers Nos. 205-211
205. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the regulatory status of ELVES limited, the compliance scheme and national collection network for end of life vehicles; if he will address concerns that the establishment of this scheme introduces a non-competitive dimension to the car-recycling sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41933/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe PRI Review report on End-of-Life Vehicles recommended the establishment of a compliance scheme for the sector. Following a number of discussions with my Department, the Society of the Motor Industry in Ireland (SIMI) indicated their intention to establish a representative body for producers, as defined under the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations 2014. End-of-Life Environmental Services (ELVES) Ltd. has now been established by SIMI and is a representative body for all of the major car producers operating in the country. This is an essential first step towards the introduction of a compliance scheme approach for the end-of-life vehicle sector. However, ELVES Ltd. does not, as of yet, have any regulatory role or function under the current regulations. My Department is currently working on revised regulations to allow for the establishment of a compliance scheme approach within the ELV sector. Under these new regulations, any potential compliance scheme will have to fulfil a number of conditions and will have to operate under an approval issued by my Department.
My Department has had discussions with ELVES regarding its structure and operational activities . I expect that the revised ELV Regulations will be completed before the end of this year and I will then be in a position to approve ELVES as the compliance scheme for the sector. Details as to how the scheme will operate in practice and how it will interact with the car recycling sector are in the process of being finalised and discussions are on-going with both the producers and the car recycling sector in this regard.
206. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the information he has received regarding the number of homeless persons (details supplied) allocated social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41982/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 540 of 24 November 2015, which sets out the position in this matter.
207. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of funding of homeless agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41983/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My Department does not fund any service directly but provides funding to housing authorities on a regional basis as a contribution towards costs incurred; housing authorities also provide funding from their own resources. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Details of the ‘Section 10’ Exchequer funding provided, for the years 20 11 to 2014 and allocated for 2015, by my Department to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services are set out below. A significant portion of the funding provided annually by my Department goes towards costs incurred by housing authorities in funding the provision of homeless services by providers, such as Focus Ireland, Simon Communities of Ireland, Peter McVerry Trust, Crosscare, De Paul Trust, Salvation Army, etc. Service Level Agreements are in place between housing authorities and service providers in respect of homeless services funded under Section 10. These service providers may also receive other funding from other Government departments and agencies.
Section 10 Funding 2011 – 2015
|
2011 |
€48,123,050 |
|
2012 |
€46,545,963 |
|
2013 |
€45,000,000 |
|
2014 |
€49,205,774 |
|
2015 |
€52,849,125 (allocation) |
Furthermore, as confirmed in the Budget 2016 announcement, I have secured funding of €70 million for homeless services in 2016, which is an increase of approximately 32% on the 2015 allocation. In addition, my Department is currently liaising with all the regions with regard to any possible requirement for further Exchequer funding in 2015, on the basis of expenditure actually incurred over and above their allocations, with a view to ensuring that any such funding requirements will be addressed before year-end.
The Action Plan to Address Homelessness ( December 2014 ) included a commitment to commission an evaluation of the homelessness sector including its structures, service delivery and coordination arrangements. Accordingly, my Department has commissioned an independent review of homelessness services. I expect that the draft report will be submitted to my Department before the end of this month.
208. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff within his Department who are responsible for dealing with homelessness; the role they carry out and their responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42008/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. This function is carried out by a Homeless Unit consisting of six employees - an Assistant Principal, two Higher Executive Officers, two Executive Officers and a Clerical Officer; two of these employees are on works sharing patterns. This unit is incorporated into the Homelessness and Housing Inclusion Supports Section, and the Principal Officer heading this Section also devotes the majority of his time to homelessness matters. In addition, the staff of other Units within the Housing Division, also work on issues in relation to homelessness, as does the Assistant Secretary heading the Housing Division, and the Secretary General. This reflects the fact that the long-term solution to homelessness rests on increasing the supply of homes. In November 2014 I launched the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform. This six-year strategy sets out to provide 35,000 new social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion and also provides for the delivery up to 75,000 units through local authority housing support schemes.
Delivering on the Strategy and addressing homelessness involves a co-ordinated approach across the Department’s Housing Division, including other Business Units such as Housing Policy and Finance; Housing Assistance Payment and Current Programmes and Social Housing Capital Investment, and also involving the professional and technical staff who advise on project proposals and building standards and regulations. My Department also has access to outside expertise and resources, such as the Housing Agency, as required.
209. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the new round of Leader funding will be allocated to local action groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42027/15]
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. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is conducting a two stage process for the selection of local development strategies to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Stage one of the process is now complete and those successful at stage one have moved to stage two of the process, which is the preparation of local development strategies for their areas.
The preparation and submission of local development strategies is underway in each of the 28 designated sub-regional areas. A minimum period of six months to end-January 2016 has been allowed for the submission of strategies by all Local Action Groups, with the majority expected to submit strategies within that timeframe. To date, four local development strategies have been received and these are being considered at present.
Based on progress made to date, I expect that my Department will enter into contracts with a small number of Local Action Groups before year-end or in the first weeks of 2016. Following this, Local Action Groups will be accepting applications from both private promoters and community groups for projects which are consistent with the priorities identified in the local development strategies for their area. I am hopeful that the remaining areas will have their strategies approved and commence delivery on a rolling basis in early 2016.
210. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has issued a communication to the National Asset Management Agency regarding its portfolio, and the requirement that it would significantly contribute to a resolution of the social housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42048/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has enabled and facilitated the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) in playing an important role in the delivery of housing supply generally, and social housing in particular. In the context of social housing delivery, NAMA has had ongoing engagement, since December 2011, with my Department and the Housing Agency as well as local authorities, in identifying properties that might potentially be suitable for social housing purposes.
Information in relation to the delivery of NAMA sourced social housing units, including a full breakdown by county, of units delivered on quarterly basis, is available on the Housing Agency’s website at www.housing.ie/NAMA.
By the end of September 2015, NAMA had identified 6,574 properties as being potentially available for social housing. Of these, demand has been confirmed for 2,526 available units. Negotiations and approvals in relation to these units involves approved housing bodies, local authorities, the property owners, financial institutions, receivers and other relevant parties. These 2,526 projects are at various stages of development, with 1,600 delivered, 486 under negotiation and the remaining 440 under consideration.
211. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will list all new State agencies or bodies established under the aegis of his Department since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41873/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no new State Bodies established by my Department since March 2011, nor do I plan to establish any new bodies.
