Wednesday, 2 Dec 2015

Written Answers Nos. 170 - 180

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (170, 171)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

170. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government given freedom of information documentation (details supplied) from his Department which shows a meeting between himself and a bidder for contracts for the senior alert scheme while an agency under his Department's remit was deciding on the tenders for those contracts, if this represents a breach of normal procedures in a tendering process, as is indicated in previous correspondence from his Department to bidders for those contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43138/15]

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

171. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is normal procedure for minutes of meetings to be taken when Ministers meet with bidders for State contracts under the remit of their Departments; why minutes of a meeting between himself and representatives of a company in the process of bidding for contracts under the Senior Alters Scheme were not taken (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43139/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.

My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme be managed by Pobal, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

A meeting between Minister Kelly and Deputy Brendan Ryan was scheduled for 10 December 2014, to discuss the Senior Alerts Scheme. While it was not indicated that any other people would be attending the meeting, Deputy Ryan was, in fact, accompanied by two people who were part of a company that had bid in the tender process to establish a panel of preferred suppliers for the equipment needed for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, at what I am advised was ultimately a meeting of brief duration in respect of which minutes were not considered necessary.

It is important to note that the assessment of the tenders including the award of contracts under the procurement process concerned was carried out wholly separately by Pobal, an independent company, following a public advertisement on eTenders on 20 October 2014. I am satisfied that this process was conducted in a robust manner consistent with EU and National Procurement Guidelines.

Motor Tax Collection

Ceisteanna (172)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

172. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a rebate scheme for truck owners who paid their motor tax at a higher rate before the Court of Appeal ruling of 21 October 2015 to allow them to recoup overpaid tax' if hauliers who were paying at this rate before 21 October 2015 are entitled to a rebate; the reason for the discrepancy in treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43145/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

On the basis of advice received from the Office of the Attorney General, there is no basis for charging motor tax on articulated vehicles at the goods rate from 21 October 2015, the date of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in relation to such vehicles. Accordingly, arrangements have been made to refund owners of articulated vehicles on amounts overpaid on or after that date. The position in relation to payments prior to that date remains under consideration.

I recently published the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2015 to provide for such vehicles to be re-classified as goods vehicles and to put motor tax reductions announced as part of Budget 2016 on a permanent statutory footing. Owners of articulated goods vehicles, as well as owners of all other heavier goods vehicles, will benefit from significantly reduced rates of motor tax for discs commencing on or after 1 January 2016.

Wastewater Treatment

Ceisteanna (173, 174)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

173. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the findings of the urban wastewater treatment in 2014 report by the Environmental Protection Agency in which inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure was found to exist at a number of agglomerations and locations in County Donegal; the action he will take to resolve the issues identified by the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43147/15]

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

174. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the findings of the urban wastewater treatment in 2014 report by the Environmental Protection Agency in which wastewater discharge was found to have contributed to pollution at a river (details supplied) in County Donegal; the action which is being taken to address pollution at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43148/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.

The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive sets out requirements for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water, with the objective of protecting the environment from the adverse effects of waste water discharges. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the environmental regulator responsible for the licensing, authorisation and enforcement of urban waste water discharges. Last week, the EPA published their annual report on compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for the year 2014, Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2014.

Neither I nor my Department have any role in the implementation of recommendations made by the EPA in the report. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure, and is responsible for compliance with the requirements of authorisations issued by the EPA.

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 requires Irish Water to put in place a Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP). The WSSP outlines the strategic direction for Irish Water over the short, medium and long-term time frames up to 2040. It identifies and prioritises the key objectives required to ensure the public water and wastewater systems meet the challenges of the future. The WSSP specifically notes that it is an objective of Irish Water to ensure compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and sets out target dates to achieve this. Irish Water published the WSSP in October 2015 and this is available online at: http://www.water.ie/about-us/project-and-plans/future-plans/.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email to [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 578 578.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (175)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

175. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government while respecting the need to protect confidentiality, if he will provide a full report, without names or contact details and so on, on the tendering process for the modular housing in Poppintree in Ballymun, Dublin 11; the criteria agreed to assess applications; the number of applications expressing interest; the number of companies that made full applications; the comparative cost analysis of the different applications; who oversaw the process; the reason for choosing the successful tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43166/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My 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.  Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities and, in that context, the procurement matters raised in the Question are a matter for Dublin City Council.

Leader Programmes Applications

Ceisteanna (176)

Gabrielle McFadden

Ceist:

176. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local action groups in Counties Longford and Westmeath will be among those entering into Leader funding contracts with his Department by the end of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43186/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities.

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.

Local development strategies have not yet been received in respect of County Longford or County Westmeath and, therefore, I do not expect that my Department will enter into funding contracts with Local Action Groups in those sub regions before year-end.

Railway Stations

Ceisteanna (177)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

177. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will contact Iarnród Éireann and inquire if extra security personnel will be deployed at Howth Junction and Donaghmede DART station in Dublin over the Christmas 2015 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43065/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The issue raised is a matter for Irish Rail and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (178)

Michael McCarthy

Ceist:

178. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding that is available to a music festival (details supplied) in County Cork; if increased funding is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43078/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The award of grants for festivals is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland and not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. It is a competitive process and there is no guarantee of funding for events which meet the minimum eligibility criteria.

The Deputy may wish to note that the application process for the Regional Festivals Programme opened on 1 December and will remain open until 12.00 noon on Monday 18 January 2016 when all applications will be assessed against the published criteria.  The guidelines and application form are available to download from www.failteireland.ie/festivals.

Taxi Regulations

Ceisteanna (179)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

179. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the taxi advisory committee that was disbanded in July 2015 will be reconvened; the persons who will be on the taxi advisory committee; how its members will be chosen; if there will be representatives of the taxi drivers on the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43093/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I am currently appointing members to the new Taxi Advisory Committee, in accordance with Section 72(4) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. To date, the Chairperson and 13 of the 17 ordinary members have been appointed and are listed in the table.

Three appointments, which will be made under the Special Interest/ Expertise category, were advertised on 30th November through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), with a closing date of 21st December for submission of expressions of interest. There is also one further appointment to be made under the Consumer Interest category.  

Taxi Advisory Committee – November 2015

-	Board Member	Agency/Organisation	Representing	Date of Expiry of current appointment
1.	Pat Byrne	Chairperson		31/07/2018
2.	Gerard Macken	Taxi Alliance of Ireland	Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) sector	31/07/2018
3.	Martin Plummer	National Chauffer Drivers Association of Ireland	SPSV sector	31/07/2018
4.	Robert Lynch	Allied Cork Taxi Council	SPSV sector	31/07/2018
5.	Joe Herron	Irish Taxi Drivers Federation	SPSV sector	31/07/2018
6.	David McGuinness	Tiománaí Tacsaí na hÉireann	SPSV sector	31/07/2018
7.	Cornelius O'Donohue	Garda National Traffic Bureau of An Garda Síochána	An Garda Síochána	31/07/2018
8.	Michael Kilcoyne	Consumers Association of Ireland	Consumer interest	31/07/2018
9.	Mike Jones	Chambers Ireland	Business interest	31/07/2018
10.	Mairead Hayes	Irish Senior Citizens Parliament	Older persons	31/07/2018
11.	Al Ryan	Irish Hotel Federation	Tourism interest	31/07/2018
12.	Shane Hogan	National Disability Authority	Persons with disabilities interest	31/07/2018
13.	Declan Wallace	Dublin City Council	Local Authorities	31/07/2018
14.	Stephen Cluskey	N/A	Special interest/expertise	31/07/2018
15.	Vacancy	Via PAS	Special interest/expertise	31/07/2018
16.	Vacancy	Via PAS	Special interest/expertise	31/07/2018
17.	Vacancy	Via PAS	Special interest/expertise	31/07/2018
18.	Vacancy	To be appointed	Consumer interest	31/07/2018

Vehicle Registration

Ceisteanna (180)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

180. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the delay in processing a log book for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43171/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Change of vehicle ownership notifications are recorded on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) at my Department's office in Shannon, Co. Clare. Unless there is some inaccuracy, or other absent information on this notification, the change is recorded within one working day and the new owner receives a Vehicle Registration Certificate (log book) in his or her name shortly afterwards.

The records on the NVDF indicate that a notification for the vehicle in question was received on 28 October 2015 and a Vehicle Registration Certificate issued to the address provided on 29 October 2015. There is no record of the vehicle in question being registered to a garage on the NVDF, prior to transfer to the new owner name supplied.

I understand the vehicle was subsequently licensed at Donegal Motor Tax Office on 5 November 2015.