Written Answers Nos. 545-567
545. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the consultation his Department has undertaken with Fingleton White, with Dublin City Council and with Fingal County Council with regard to the necessity of building a 16 km aviation pipeline from Dublin Port to Dublin Airport. [42345/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither I nor my Department have been consulted by Fingleton White, Fingal County Council or Dublin City Council regarding the construction of a 16 km aviation fuel pipeline from Dublin Port to Dublin Airport. I understand that Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council decided to grant planning permission for this development within their own administrative areas (on 7 July and 15 October 2015, respectively). The decision of Dublin City Council has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which will determine the planning application as if it had been made to the Board in the first instance.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála, is or may be concerned. Accordingly I have no function in relation to this matter.
546. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the taxation and valuation system of commercial properties via commercial rates is sufficiently transparent, given the significant variation in the efficiency and rate of collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42362/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra560. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will amend the taxation and valuation system of commercial properties via commercial rates, through the introduction of a commercial site value tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42363/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 560 together.
Local 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 Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters, including the most appropriate method of valuation. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.
It is important to acknowledge that commercial rates, as a local tax, and the rating system generally are deeply embedded in the local government system. A large body of case law is well established and local authorities and ratepayers are, in the main, very familiar with, and generally accepting of, the operation and practice of the rating system. Rates are also a stable source of financing for local government which is not affected unduly by short-term changes in economic circumstances.
Commercial rates are legally payable in two moieties; the first moiety and arrears are payable on the date of the making of the rate and the second moiety is payable on 1 July. In practice local authorities facilitate payments of commercial rates by instalments including by direct debit. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of due amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in light of prevailing circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures.
I am aware of the continued need to restrain costs on 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 and 2016 are not directly comparable with previous years due to the local authority mergers and the necessity to harmonise rates across new local authority areas.
I have no immediate plans to amend the legislation governing commercial rates.
547. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to exempt pensioners from the water charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42530/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA revised water charging regime was announced by the Government on 19 November 2014. The capped annual charge is €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households until the end of 2018. All households now know what their capped bills will be until the end of 2018, which is particularly important for larger households or those with high usage due to medical needs.
In addition, a water conservation grant of €100 per year is available to qualifying households. The Department of Social Protection is administering the grant on behalf of my Department, which is available to households (principal private dwellings) that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process.
The water conservation grant replaces the tax rebate and social protection measures previously announced and is a more straightforward means of addressing water issues for all households on equal terms and will reduce households’ outlay on water services both now and in the future.
The charges structure was revised with a view to making it simpler and fairer, providing more clarity and certainty to households. The overall cost for those who register with Irish Water, net of the €100 water conservation grant, is either €1.15 a week for single adult households or €3 a week for all others. Water supply will not be reduced under any circumstance.
When it comes to payment, a range of easy pay options are in place, including direct debits, electronic funds transfer, payment by cash at any retail outlet with a paypoint or payzone sign or a post office where a bill can be paid in full or part payments of a minimum of €5 can be made. Irish Water also intends participating in the Household Budget scheme. This facility, operated by An Post on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, provides customers with a facility to have their household utility bills and social housing rents deducted directly from their weekly social welfare payment.
548. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of annual motor tax revenue spent on the administration and transaction costs involved in levying the tax. [42560/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMotor tax can be paid online or by post or in person in 26 local authority areas. Some 67% of vehicle owners now tax online. The annual cost of maintaining the National Vehicle and Driver File, including the online system and the technological facilitation of the collection of motor tax in local authorities, is €12.5m. The cost of administering the service via the network of motor tax offices is €41m annually. Annual gross receipts from motor tax were €1.159 bn in 2014. Costs, therefore, represented 4.6 % of total receipts.
549. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of funding for a library to be constructed in Kinnegad in County Westmeath. [42561/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA draft Libraries Capital Investment Programme is being developed by my Department for investment in library infrastructure over the period 2016-2021. The proposed library at Kinnegad has been identified by Westmeath County Council as a priority investment and, accordingly, will be considered in that context.
550. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding employment opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42631/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is a matter for each local authority Chief Executive, for the purposes of discharging responsibilities, under section 149 of the Act, for the efficient and effective operation of his or her authority, to make such staffing and organisational arrangements as are deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions for which he or she carries responsibilities. The Library service is one such responsibility under Chapter 3 of the Local Government Act 2001.
Posts in the Library service are filled using recruitment qualifications declared by the Minister pursuant to section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001 and these recruitment qualifications are currently under review by my Department.
551. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why there is such a delay in an application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 4 for a home care grant. [42787/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are administered by local authorities, in this case Dublin City Council, with funding from my Department. There is no difficulty with funding availability under the schemes from my Department and I understand that Dublin City Council is in contact with the applicant in the matter.
552. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allocate an additional €40 million over the coming years to enhance the Leader programme, given the high level of demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42891/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 will provide €250 million to support the development of sustainable rural communities. €220 million of this has been made available to the 28 sub-regional areas with €5m for the REDZ Initiative and €10 million for co-operation projects to be distributed in due course. An additional €15 million will be made available through LEADER for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine Artisan Foods Initiative.
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. Indeed, the preparation and submission of local development strategies is under way 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.
The focus is now on ensuring that all of the strategies are finalised so that Local Action Groups can begin accepting applications from both private promoters and community groups for projects. My priority is to begin distributing the existing €250 million in funding to those rural communities. As regards additional funding, the Deputy will be aware that I recently announced a €30m investment to support Town and Village regeneration. The new scheme will support the revitalisation of rural towns and villages with the aim of improving the living and working environment in rural communities and enhancing their potential to support increased economic activity into the future.
The new scheme is proposed as part of a concerted effort to support the development of rural towns and villages not only as a component of a broader approach to rural development but also to improve the environment of rural dwellers in a way that will increase their quality of life and simultaneously support potential economic activity in their area.
553. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reforms he has achieved since this Government took office in 2011 and his future plans for political reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42352/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe process of parliamentary reform is an ongoing one. The Programme for Government outlined an ambitious agenda for Dáil Reform to be introduced in a phased process over the lifetime of the Government. On foot of this, since 2011 the operation of the Dáil has been steadily reformed to enhance the legislative role of elected members and improve the working of the House. The measures introduced have included the following.
The number of Dáil sitting days has been significantly increased by reducing the length of Dáil breaks at Christmas, Easter, public holidays and the summer and introducing regular Friday sitting days. During the 45 months the FF, Green & PD Government was in office the Dáil sat 349 days – an average of 93 days a year. The FG & Labour Government has been in office 56 months and the Dáil has sat for 576 days – an average of almost 124 days a year, an increase of 31 more sitting days per year.
The first phase of the Dáil Reform Programme was introduced in the summer of 2011 and included:
- An additional Leaders' Questions session on Thursdays, taken by the Tánaiste
- Topical Issues Debates to replace the outmoded Adjournment Debates, so as to give Deputies an opportunity to raise issues direct with Ministers from the relevant Department
- Friday sittings to enable Deputies to play a fuller role in the legislative process by introducing their own Bills and having those Bills debated on the floor of the Dáil
- A mechanism for appeal to the Ceann Comhairle if a Deputy is unhappy with the reply received to a Parliamentary Question
- A Pre-Legislative review system where by Ministers could provide the Heads of a Bill to the relevant Oireachtas Committee to review before the Bill was published
- Restructuring of the Oireachtas Committee system by reducing the number of Oireachtas Committees from 25 to 16
- Introducing a new Oireachtas Committee chaired by an Opposition Deputy to work with Ombudsmen's offices and review petitions.
In the summer of 2012, further reforms to the Oireachtas Committee system were introduced, which streamlined the structure and provided an additional focus on areas of priority such as Jobs and Agriculture.
In September 2013 the Government announced the second phase of Dáil Reforms and the Dáil debated and approved changes to Standing Orders in October 2013. These reforms are being phased in and include changes to enable more public involvement in the law-making process:
- A Pre-Legislative Stage at an Oireachtas Committee is now a general requirement for non-emergency legislation. A Minister who does not bring a Bill to Committee for Pre-Legislative Stage is required to explain that decision to the Dáil.
- The new Pre-Legislative Stage allows for an unprecedented and extensive engagement by the public in law-making. The Committee can consult with experts and civic society groups; crucially, this takes place before the legislation is drafted.
- Where there has been a Pre-Legislative Stage, the Chair or Vice Chair of the Committee has an opportunity to outline the Committee's work to the members of the Dáil during the Second Stage debate after the Minister and main opposition spokespeople have spoken on the Bill.
In addition, each year the Taoiseach and Tánaiste will address the Dáil setting out the Government’s annual priorities, with Ministers setting out their Department’s plans.
The role of Oireachtas Committees in the Budget process has also been expanded.
There has been a reduction in the number of Legislative Programmes to two per year.
The time available for legislative debate in the Dáil has been increased, by increasing the total number of sitting days, extending the length of sitting days and starting at 9.30 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The way legislation is debated in the Chamber has been improved:
- At First Stage, the proposer of a Private Member’s Bill now has five minutes to outline the purpose of the Bill to the Dáil and explain the reasons for proposing it.
- Where proposed legislation has been the subject of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny, at Second Stage the Chair or Vice Chair of the Committee which considered the Bill at Pre-Legislative Stage has a speaking slot, of the same length as that of the Minister and Opposition Spokespeople, to report to the Dáil on the Committee's findings.
- At the end of the Second Stage debate, 45 minutes may be allowed for concluding remarks by Deputies, chosen by the Ceann Comhairle, who have previously spoken.
The number of Friday sittings has been expanded and the Dáil now sits every second Friday to debate Private Members' Bills and Committee Reports selected using a lottery system. This has encouraged a rapid growth in the number of Bills introduced by Deputies, from 14 published in 2010 to 53 published in 2014. The new Friday sittings also allow Committees, for the first time, to seek directly to have their own reports debated in the Dáil.
The system of Topical Issues now requires the Minister or a Minister of State from the relevant Department to reply; if this is not the case, the Deputy who raised the issue can have it deferred until a Minister or Minister of State from that Department is available.
The time allocated to Oral Parliamentary Questions to Ministers has been standardised to 75 minutes. An ordinary Oral Question will be answered only if the Deputy tabling the Question is in the Chamber when it is reached, and the Deputy is given a brief period, of 30 seconds, to outline the question.
The Government also passed the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges & Procedures) Act 2013 and the Standing Orders to establish an Oireachtas Inquiry system are now in place. The Banking Inquiry is the first Oireachtas Inquiry established under this new legislation.
The Convention on the Constitution's 7th Report, on the issue of Dáil Reform, is currently being considered and a response is expected on this over the next few months.
Dáil Reform is an ongoing process and the Government intends to bring forward a further package of reforms for consideration.
554. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a time limit on bringing properties into use (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42297/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no time limit requirement under the planning laws relating to the bringing into use of properties after their completion.
However, the recently enacted Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, underutilised sites in urban areas. In the context of the Act, the term “site” includes residential land and any structures on such land. Under the provisions of the Act, with effect from 2019 - in respect of 2018 - a levy will be charged on the registered owners of vacant sites in designated areas in local development plans and local area plans as being in need of, and suitable for, housing. The levy – which will be applied at a rate of 3% of the market value of a vacant site with reduced rates applying in specific circumstances - will be charged each subsequent year until the site is no longer vacant. When operational, it is envisaged that the levy will be instrumental in bringing vacant, underutilised residential sites and structures into beneficial use for housing purposes and assist in increasing housing supply.
555. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of European Union funding from the Leader programme for the periods 2014 to 2020 and for 2008 to 2014, to allow for a comparison of funding for both periods. [42301/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Agriculture Fund for the Rural Development Programme for Ireland is valued at €2.190 billion for the 2014–2020 programming period. LEADER has been allocated approximately 7% of this, which is €157 million. €153 million of this will be delivered through LEADER funding from my Department while the remainder will be available through LEADER for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Artisan Foods initiative.
The European Union allocation for the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is €2.434 billion. LEADER was allocated approximately 10% of this which is €243 million.
556. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will appoint an independent panel to investigate the issue of mica and defective blocks in County Donegal, as announced by the Minister of State (details supplied) earlier in 2015. [42309/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently announced my intention to establish an expert group to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo in order to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to their difficulties.
While building defects are, in the first instance, matters for resolution between the relevant contracting parties, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the supplier and/or their respective insurers, I propose to set up a small expert group, with a strong technical background, to establish, in so far as it is possible, the number of affected dwellings in Donegal and Mayo, the root cause of the problems and the technical solutions for remediation.
In this regard, the expert group will have the following terms of reference: -
(i) To identify, in so far as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
(iv) To submit a report by 31 May 2016.
Arrangements are now under way within my Department to identify a suitable chair for the expert group and I will be seeking nominations shortly from a number of professional bodies for suitable persons to participate on the group.
557. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority houses in County Mayo that are vacant for up to six months, six months to 12 months and more than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42312/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGeneral statistics on local authority housing stock, including vacant social housing units, are published annually by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent such statistics are the Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2013 which are available on the Agency’s website at the following link: www.lgma.ie/en/serviceindicators/2004to2013.
My Department is providing funding support to all local authorities, including Mayo County Council, to assist them in returning vacant social housing units to productive use. This funding is on top of work to deal with vacant units undertaken by local authorities from their own resources and it is not a substitute for the normal responsibilities of local authorities to maintain their social housing properties.
Mayo County Council returned 80 vacant units back into productive use in 2014, and the target for 2015 is 122,34 of which are being funded by my Department, with the remaining 88 being funded through resources provided by the Council itself. I am satisfied that both this support from my Department and the local authorities’ own resources are bringing significant improvements to the issue of vacant social houses and making them available to those on the waiting list as soon as possible.
558. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he is taking regarding vacant buildings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42313/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been actively supporting all local authorities, including Dublin City Council, to remediate vacant social housing units and return them to use for those on the housing waiting lists. Between 2014 and 2015, my Department has committed funding support to Dublin City Council to return 945 vacant social housing units to productive use. This is on top of the work already being undertaken by Dublin City Council and other local authorities under their own resources to re-tenant vacant social units.
€5 million of funding is also being provided to Dublin City Council covering the period 2014 to 2015, to convert decommissioned bedsit type properties into one bed units. My Department is also providing substantial funding support to the Council to advance new social housing construction projects and acquisitions.
Alongside these supports for new and remediated social housing units, I also put a Ministerial Direction in place earlier this year which requires key local authorities to prioritise homeless and other vulnerable households in the allocation of tenancies under their control. This applies until 31 January 2016 and the four Dublin local authorities have been directed to allocate 50% of all available dwellings to such households.
559. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the regulations governing the construction and maintenance of aviation fuel pipelines; if these are adequate to ensure the safe functioning of any aviation fuel pipeline built here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42343/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe construction and maintenance of aviation fuel pipelines is subject to the normal planning processes provided for in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and Regulations made thereunder. Thus, planning permission is required for such development from the planning authority concerned, or An Bord Pleanála on appeal, and the process of determining whether permission should be granted for such type of development includes requirements relating to the submission of a detailed environmental impact statement and appropriate assessment, where necessary, as well as a safety and environmental impact evaluation which is effectively a risk analysis as to the safety of the proposal as against alternative options relating to the supply of aviation fuel at the airport. The determination of any such planning application would, as a matter of course, also generally involve internal consultation by the relevant planning authority with its own Fire Services Section as to the functioning of such a proposed development, if granted permission.
The proposed pipeline in question is presently the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála, is or may be concerned. Accordingly I have no function in relation to this matter.
561. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of compensation that will be paid to each local authority as a result of the global rates revaluation, in tabular form; the amount each local authority stands to lose as a result of the process, before compensation; the way the level of compensation was calculated in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42514/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra590. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated figure for the reduction in revenue from commercial rates for each local authority as a result of the Valuation Office's global revaluation, if the commercial rates charged by each local authority were to remain the same in 2016, and no other source of revenue was found to substitute the lost revenue. [42951/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 590 together.
Local 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 Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters, including the global valuation of property of public utility undertakings under Part 11 of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. The Valuation Act 2001 comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Valuation Act 2001, as amended, provides for global valuations of utility undertakings, to be carried out by the Valuation Office every five years and entered on the central valuation list. The most recent global valuations carried out by the Valuation Office are in respect of Gas Networks Ireland, Iarnród Éireann and telecommunications companies BT Ireland, Eircom, Vodafone, Three Ireland and Meteor. On 4 November 2015 the Valuation Office issued a copy of the Valuation Certificate and a schedule setting out the apportioned value to each rating authority. The previous valuation for these utilities had taken place in 2010. The Global Valuation Certificates show a reduction in the combined valuations for these utilities of €112m. Moreover, the reduction in the global valuation of the ESB, following an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, will reduce the rates payable by the ESB from 2016.
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. This process has recently been concluded in each local authority as part of the budgeting process for 2016. The implications of the Commissioner of Valuation’s global revaluation of utility infrastructure for individual local authorities will ultimately be dependent on each authority’s ARV, and its overall income and expenditure decided on in its budget.
My Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and there will be a once off adjustment in support from the Local Government Fund in 2016 to local authorities affected by the global valuations.
The estimate of the reduction in rates income arising from the new global valuations and the amount of the adjustment in the Local Government Fund in 2016 is set out in the table. The amount of the adjustment per local authority was calculated with reference to the reduction in valuation of each global utility (including the reduction in valuation of the ESB following an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal) in each local authority area, applying the latest available Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) to obtain the estimated reduction in rates income and by reducing the amount by just over 28% to accord with the available funding.
|
County Council |
Estimate of reduction in income arising from new valuations |
Amount of Adjustment in Local Government Fund |
|
Carlow |
€243,887 |
€175,549 |
|
Cavan |
€212,638 |
€153,056 |
|
Clare |
€646,702 |
€465,493 |
|
Cork |
€1,897,841 |
€1,366,056 |
|
Donegal |
€717,503 |
€516,455 |
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown |
€1,045,936 |
€752,859 |
|
Fingal* |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Galway |
€796,831 |
€573,554 |
|
Kerry |
€835,463 |
€601,362 |
|
Kildare |
€879,403 |
€632,989 |
|
Kilkenny |
€361,120 |
€259,932 |
|
Laois |
€252,149 |
€181,495 |
|
Leitrim |
€122,730 |
€88,341 |
|
Longford |
€222,631 |
€160,249 |
|
Louth |
€399,540 |
€287,587 |
|
Mayo |
€691,776 |
€497,937 |
|
Meath |
€793,217 |
€570,953 |
|
Monaghan |
€195,614 |
€140,802 |
|
Offaly |
€315,895 |
€227,379 |
|
Roscommon |
€322,133 |
€231,870 |
|
Sligo |
€267,373 |
€192,454 |
|
South Dublin |
€1,337,243 |
€962,540 |
|
Tipperary |
€568,963 |
€409,537 |
|
Westmeath |
€312,487 |
€224,926 |
|
Wexford |
€533 |
€383 |
|
Wicklow |
€749,197 |
€539,268 |
|
City Council |
|
|
|
Cork |
€1,638,904 |
€1,179,674 |
|
Dublin |
€4,429,335 |
€3,188,211 |
|
Galway |
€369,492 |
€265,959 |
|
City and County Council |
|
|
|
Limerick |
€1,655,398 |
€1,191,546 |
|
Waterford |
€849,664 |
€611,584 |
*Fingal County Council had already adopted its Budget prior to 4 November 2015.
562. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when an application by Clare County Council to sanction the position of community warden will be considered and sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42525/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application to sanction this post was received by my Department on 17 June 2015 and has been approved.
563. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Mayo County Council for energy efficiency measures in its housing stock between 2011 and 2014; the amount that has been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42548/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetween 2011 and 2014, Mayo County Council was allocated €2.023 million toward energy efficiency measures for their social housing stock and drew down €1.8 million of this funding.
564. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Mayo County Council for housing construction and acquisition between 2011 and 2014; the amount that has been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42549/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra589. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the need for social housing in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42895/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 589 together.
My Department provides capital funding to local authorities to increase their supply of social housing stock through the construction and acquisition of houses and apartments. This is one of the methods for the delivery of social housing by both local authorities and by approved housing bodies and significant housing delivery is also achieved through a range of other programmes supported by my Department.
The Exchequer funding drawn down by Mayo County Council in the delivery of new social housing units through both the local authority housing programme and the Capital Assistance Scheme between 2011 and 2014 is outlined in the following table:
|
Year |
Local Authority Housing |
Capital Assistance Scheme |
|
2011 |
€1,101,258 |
€281,063 |
|
2012 |
€804,563 |
€1,054,003 |
|
2013 |
€295,791 |
€2,499,474 |
|
2014 |
€709,620 |
€358,101 |
Allocations are not always issued to the authorities under these programmes as they are largely demand-led. In relation to future social housing in County Mayo, targets and provisional funding allocations for delivery under my Department’s main capital and current programmes were issued to all local authorities, including Mayo County Council, in April this year. These targets were issued in the context of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which provides a comprehensive response to the need for social housing and targets the provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, 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.
The targets are for the period out to 2017 and the available funding is being invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes by the local authorities designed to accommodate 25% of those currently on the housing waiting lists. Mayo County has a target of 566 units, supported by € 30.3 m of investment, broken down as follows:
|
- |
Local Authority Housing/ AHB delivery via CAS/ Return of vacant properties |
Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme |
Rental Accommodation Scheme |
||
|
Period |
2015-17 |
2015 |
2016/7 |
2015 |
2016/7 |
|
Social Housing Units |
146 |
5 0 |
137 |
115 |
118 |
The detailed implementation of the programmes and projects to deliver on targets is a matter for each individual local authority, but I am confident that good progress is being made in their achievement. When the targets were announced, it was indicated that the funding would support the refurbishment of vacant social housing units and support local authorities in both building and acquiring housing. Subsequently, I announced new social housing construction projects to the value of approximately half a billion euros, including 39 new units for Mayo at a cost estimate of €7.2 million. Details are available on my Department’s website at the following links: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm
565. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Mayo County Council under the housing adaptation grant for people with disabilities scheme between 2011 and 2014; the amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42550/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra566. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Mayo County Council under the mobility aids housing grant scheme between 2011 and 2014; the amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42551/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra567. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Mayo County Council under the housing aid for older people scheme between 2011 and 2014; the amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42552/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 565 to 567, inclusive, together.
My Department provides funding under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. There are three separate grants available under the scheme and local authorities receive an overall allocation, with the responsibility for the apportionment between the 3 schemes being a matter for each authority. The allocations and drawdowns for Mayo County Council in the years requested are as follows:
|
- |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
|
2011 |
€2,274,400 |
€2,268,000 |
|
2012 |
€2,060,173 |
€2,067,116 |
|
2013 |
€2,060,173 |
€2,143,834 |
|
2014 |
€2,227,225 |
€1,984,326 |
Information on the exchequer funding provided by my Department to each local authority for these schemes is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/, by selecting ‘Social and Affordable Housing’, ‘Housing Adaptation Grants by Area 2008 to date’. Details of the 2015 allocations are contained on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/GeneralNews/MainBody,41581,en.html.
