Written Answers Nos 263-273
263. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding schools returning in August; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43454/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile standardised arrangements for the breaks to be taken by schools at Christmas, Easter and midterm apply to all schools, it is not a requirement of these agreed arrangements that the commencement or end of the school year either at primary or post-primary level should be standardised.
Individual schools may therefore determine the precise start and end of the school year subject to ensuring that the requirements in respect of the minimum number of teaching days per school year are met. The expectation is that the school year will normally commence during the week in which 1st September falls. However, the school year may commence prior to that where this is necessary in order to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of 167 days at post-primary level or 183 days at primary level.
264. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the marine spatial plan; if it will include areas deemed favourable for the location of offshore wind farms; if designations will be preceded by visual impact studies from the shore; if in making such designations the Marine Institute will take on board the tourism value of views off areas such as Bray Head and Greystones in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43339/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is a relatively recent discipline which has developed in different ways in different places. UNESCO defines it as a practical way to create and establish a more rational organisation of the use of marine space and the interaction between its uses, to balance demands for development with the need to protect marine ecosystems, and to achieve social and economic objectives in an open and planned way.
Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland (HOOW), published in 2012, recognises maritime spatial planning as a key enabler of maritime activities leading to growth and jobs. To support the implementation of HOOW, a dedicated cross-Department task force, the Enablers Task Force, was established in December 2012 to consider the development of an appropriate MSP framework for Ireland within which the scope and objectives of an overarching national plan will be defined. The task force report, endorsed by the Government in July 2015, is available at: http://www.ouroceanwealth.ie/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/news/Final%20Our%20Ocean%20Wealth%20Enablers%20Task%20Force%20Report.pdf
In parallel to the work of the Enablers Task Force, EU negotiations on a Directive on MSP progressed, leading to the adoption of Directive 2014/89/EU establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning in July 2014. The Directive contains a transposition deadline of September 2016 and requires Member States to have maritime spatial plans in place by 2021.
In broad terms, the Directive requires Member States to consider economic, social and environmental aspects to support sustainable development in the maritime sector and to apply an eco-system based approach to the co-existence of appropriate activities. The Directive also requires trans-boundary cooperation between Member States and Third Countries in the development of such plans.
The Directive outlines the main objectives and minimum requirements of MSP and includes requirements for Member States to:
- designate a competent authority or authorities to implement the Directive;
- establish a legislative framework for maritime spatial planning;
- develop maritime spatial plans;
- ensure comprehensive public participation in the development of plans;
- organise the use of the best available data; and
- co-operate with other Member States and Third Countries.
When established the maritime spatial plan will provide a robust policy and forward planning context for considering applications for development in the maritime area.
It is intended to bring proposals to Government shortly concerning the administrative arrangements for implementing the Directive’s requirements.
265. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43251/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have currently no plans to re-introduce Affordable Housing Purchase Schemes. However, I do recognise the difficulty faced by households in accessing the housing market and therefore an affordable rental pilot scheme was announced as part of Budget 2016 with €10 million being made available from the proceeds of the sale of Bord Gáis Éireann to fund a pilot in 2016. The details of the Scheme are currently being finalised in my Department and will be completed by end-year, for rollout in early 2016.
The Scheme will be an ongoing annual commitment to secure a long term increase in the supply of affordable properties to meet the needs of those households that would struggle to make rental payments under present market conditions.
The pilot Scheme is expected to work on the basis of tenants paying the majority of the rental cost from their own resources, with the State helping to meet the shortfall. It is intended that the scheme would be made available to employed households on low to moderate incomes, as well as being a possible support option for some households who qualify for social housing support.
A State policy intervention - such as a subsidy - would be applied to bridge the gap between what people can afford, and what the housing market charges. Such a scheme would also be expected to facilitate and incentivise private investment into this sector.
The shortage of supply of housing is at the heart of the housing issues in Ireland and, in that regard, I recently announced, with my colleague the Minister for Finance, a package of measures to boost new housing construction and enhance supply at more affordable prices. These include:
- The enhanced supply of more affordable starter homes in key locations through a targeted rebate of development contributions in Dublin and Cork for housing supplied under certain price levels;
- New National Apartment Planning Guidelines to be issued to reduce the cost of apartment building in Dublin City,
- Changes to aspects of the operation of Strategic Development Zones to enable swifter adjustments to meet market requirements; and,
- The Government’s Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) to examine funding for housing infrastructure on a case-by-case basis.
The package also included a number of measures to support rent stability in the private rented sector, pending additional housing supply coming on stream in the coming years.
266. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied) regarding homes affected by mica; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43301/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA reply to the correspondence referred to in the Question has recently issued from my Department.
267. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in a case where An Bord Pleanála decides against the recommendation of the board's planning inspector, if he will confirm the documentation an appellant is entitled to which is not published online such as the minutes of the meeting where the decision was made and any working papers used by the board; his plans to improve transparency in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43316/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen An Bórd Pleanála makes a decision on a planning appeal, it publishes the following documents on its website - the Inspector’s report in relation to the appeal and the Board’s direction and decision on the appeal. Under article 74 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, the Board is required to provide comprehensive information when notifying the parties concerned and any person who made submissions or observations in relation to the appeal of its decision on an appeal, including specifying of the nature of the decision and the main reasons and considerations on which the decision is based.
Furthermore, where the Board’s decision differs from the recommendations in the Inspector’s report, the Board is also required under article 74(2)(k) of the Regulations to specify the main reasons for not accepting the Inspector’s recommendations. This level of disclosure is intended to ensure the transparency of the process for all parties involved in the appeal and to enable the rationale for the Board’s final decision on the appeal to be fully understood by all parties involved. I am satisfied that the existing arrangements in relation to the disclosure of information and documentation in relation to decisions made on planning appeals by the Board are fair and comprehensive and I have no plans to amend them.
268. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the six local authority planning inquiries are proceeding; the stage each is at; if interim reports have been delivered to him; if he will share the findings; the expected completion date of each investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43336/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question Nos. 571 and 583 of 1 December 2015 which sets out the position in this matter.
269. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding made available in each year since 2011 for the provision of alarms, pendants and other security devices for the elderly under the relevant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43355/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase of equipment by a registered organisation i.e. personal alarm and/or pendant and the associated monitoring and service charges are paid by the participant. 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. The management and administration of the scheme transferred from the Department to Pobal on 7 September 2015.
This new approach will reduce the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the scheme, who provide an excellent service for the elderly. It will enable these groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the scheme, namely to support and interact with the elderly in the local community.
The 2015 allocation for the operation of the Seniors Alert Scheme is €2.35m.
The annual spend on the Seniors Alert Scheme from 2011 to 2014 is shown in the table.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2011 |
€2.47m |
|
2012 |
€2.52m |
|
2013 |
€2.32m |
|
2014 |
€1.70m |
270. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the spend incurred under the Leader programme 2007 to 2013; the original allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43356/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe original allocation of LEADER funding for the 2007-2013 programming period was just short of €400 million. The allocation was reduced in 2012 when the EU co-financing rate changed due to the financial crisis. To date, €276 million has been spent on projects, €12 million on animation expenses and €71 million on administration giving a total of €359 million.
The final date for expenditure under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is 31 December 2015. The final outturn for the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is expected to be in the order of €370 million.
271. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why the 15% of income cap for State pensioners has not been applied to the differential rent scheme operated by local authorities as part of the revision of rents; if such a cap should be applied to other sources of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43383/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach housing authority is responsible, under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, for determining the rent for its dwellings, subject to complying with broad principles laid down by my Department. The primary principle set down is that the rent payable should be related to household income and that low-income households should pay a lower proportion of income in rent.
The current arrangements for determining local authority rents will be substantially replaced on the coming into force of Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Section 31 provides for the introduction of a national differential rents framework that will harmonise local authority rent levels, while retaining some discretion for individual authorities to set rents in their own areas.
Detailed proposals for the implementation of Section 31 are currently being considered. In the context of those proposals the comparability of the standard minimum weekly rent payable for a local authority dwelling and the minimum weekly contribution that rent supplement beneficiaries are currently required to pay towards the rent of their accommodation is being considered.
272. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when Rathcaled and Ballynacarrigy, County Westmeath, will have access to broadband and high speed broadband. [43242/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra273. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when Castletown and Finnea, County Westmeath, will have access to high speed broadband, given that at present there is extremely limited telephone and Internet coverage leaving persons in that area at a considerable disadvantage. [43243/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together.
The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services.
The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention and includes Rathcaled, Ballynacarrigy, Castletown and Finnea Co Westmeath.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises or home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to over 20,000 premises to date in County Westmeath with over 6,500 more expected to be served by commercial investment. Approximately 17,800 remaining premises in County Westmeath will be covered either by further commercial investment or be the target for the proposed State intervention under the NBP. The breakdown of premises covered per townland is available on the high speed Broadband map.
Over 40 responses were received following the publication of the NBP proposed Intervention Strategy in July last. Non-confidential versions of these submissions are being published and can be accessed at www.Broadband.gov.ie.
Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals. I expect to proceed to formal procurement before the end of the year.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with an ambition of 100% coverage by end of 2020.
