Written Answers Nos. 570-586
570. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has initiated enforcement proceedings under the Foreshore Acts for illegal dumping in a location in County Galway (details supplied). [44898/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has sought legal advice on how best to deal with the foreshore issues arising at the area in question. This advice, when received and considered, will assist my Department in identifying the appropriate next steps.
571. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the Leader programmes will fully commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44901/15]
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 mid-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, eight 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 Local Action Groups on a rolling basis in early 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.
572. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role and purpose of the National Oversight and Audit Commission, the responsibilities it has taken over from the Local Government Management Agency, when the local government indicators report or the equivalent performance indicators report will be published. [44946/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) was established under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 to provide oversight of the local government sector.
The specific functions assigned to NOAC are set out in section 126C of the Local Government Act 2001 (as inserted by section 61 of the 2014 Act) and include scrutiny of the performance of any local government body against relevant indicators that NOAC considers it appropriate to refer to. Its functions do not involve taking over any responsibilities from the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). However, its role in relation to the scrutiny of local government performance against relevant indicators, replaces, in respect of performance in 2014 and subsequent years, the service indicators initiative in local authorities that was introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in 2004.
The LGMA role in the collection of relevant data through its eReturns system, and in the compilation of tables and commentary on the data, continues in respect of the replacement performance indicators reports to be published by NOAC. Accordingly, in respect of 2014 and subsequent years, the LGMA will no longer be compiling and publishing annual service indicators reports but continues to be involved in compiling, for NOAC, data on the performance indicators determined by NOAC for inclusion in its annual performance indicators reports.
NOAC is statutorily independent of my Department so details relating to the timing of publication of the report on 2014 activity by local authorities are a matter for NOAC itself.
573. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of subvention by the State and local authorities to group water schemes, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44953/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided for group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual group scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for the local authorities.
Details of the block grant allocations notified to local authorities under the 2015 Rural Water Programme are outlined on my Department's website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterServices/RuralWaterProgramme/.
Details of the level of subsidies available towards the Operational Costs of Group Water Schemes, which scheme is also administered by the local authorities and which are paid on a demand led basis, are also available on the same weblink.
Information on payments made directly to group water schemes would be available from individual local authorities.
574. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimates of the reduction in the private housing stock in Dublin as a result of the introduction of new apartment size regulations, which affect bedsits in particular; the amount of funding he has provided to all Dublin local authorities for refurbishing and regenerating bedsit accommodation; the eligibility criteria for this scheme; and the criteria used in deciding which units are eligible for refurbishment. [44954/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere will be no adverse implications for the quantum of private housing stock in Dublin as a result of the introduction of updated planning guidelines on apartment developments, because these guidelines will apply only to new build projects going through the planning process.
The updated guidelines I propose to publish shortly are intended to address difficulties in the construction of new apartments in Dublin, from an economic viability perspective, taking account of the fact that different local authorities in and around the city have different standards which are increasing cost for delivery and future maintenance.
In relation to funding my Department has provided to refurbish certain social housing bedsit units, this was first provided under the job stimulus package approved by Government in 2014. An allocation of €5 million was made available to Dublin City Council to convert a number of old bedsit social housing units into social housing apartments. This funding was available for those bedsit units that the City Council prioritised; it was a matter for the Council to select the units to be upgraded. To date, the Council has converted 42 bedsits into apartments.
575. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why Tipperary County Council has refused to purchase a property (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45016/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of social housing services is a matter for each local authority as the housing authority for its area. Local authorities must identify their area’s social housing need and respond as required. This includes delegated sanction from my Department to acquire suitable properties for social housing, where they represent value for money, meet the social housing need in the area, while at the same time being sensitive to local market conditions. Therefore, it is a matter for Tipperary County Council to determine if the acquisition of a particular property is suitable for the social housing need in their area.
576. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the ground rents he or agencies under the remit of his Department pay, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in 2015 and 2016 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45054/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not pay ground rent on the buildings it occupies. This would normally be a matter for the Office of Public Works, or, in the case of certain property occupied by Met Éireann, the Dublin Airport Authority and other Airport Authorities, where appropriate.
The information requested in respect of State Agencies is not collected by my Department.
577. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the funding of each Leader programme administered by the Mayo north east company, by project, by amount, by date approved, by date paid, from 2007 to 2013, if the amount of €9,535,062 was fully allocated to the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45086/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development, there are 35 Local Action Groups contracted on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP) are the Local Action Group for the North East Mayo area and, as such, are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding in line with Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations. The projects, together with the amounts funded up to 12 October 2015, can be found on my Department’s website via the link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/RuralDevelopment/EURuralDevelopment/RuralDevelopmentProgrammeLEADER2007-2013/.
I can confirm that €9,605,562 was made available to the Mayo North East and Gaeltacht areas within County Mayo and of that, €7,336,266 was committed to projects with the remaining €2,269,295 provided to MNELP towards programme administration costs.
578. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the €30 million budget allocation to the rural regeneration and investment in rural communities' package for each of the years 2015 to 2021 in tabular form, as announced in September 2015. [45092/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, 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.
It is proposed to allocate €5m to the Scheme in each year from 2016 to 2021.
579. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on housing waiting lists and why he is not aware of the level of housing need. [45124/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra580. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Donegal. [45125/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra581. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Galway. [45126/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra582. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Mayo. [45127/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra583. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting for list County Sligo. [45128/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra584. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Leitrim. [45129/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra585. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the housing waiting list for County Roscommon. [45130/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 579 to 585, inclusive, together.
The statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2013 identified 89,872 households assessed by housing authorities as being eligible and in need of some form of social housing support as at 7 May 2013. The 2013 results provide details on the number of qualified households on the waiting lists of each individual authority and are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.
The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date and reliable figures available and are based on a comprehensive review by housing authorities of the households on their waiting lists on a set date in accordance with a prescribed methodology to ensure consistency. This process involved local authorities contacting individual households to confirm their continued requirement and qualification for social housing support. The 2013 figure is of course subject to ongoing fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying for housing support.
Taking the numbers on a housing list without a full assessment of eligibility and need would be a flawed process as it does not compare like with like. Such figures are based on the numbers of households currently held on file by individual local authorities, which were not subject to the comprehensive review applied under the 2013 summary. For example there may be households included where members of the household have secured employment or whose circumstances may have otherwise changed since 2013 meaning the household is no longer qualified for or in need of social housing. The 2013 figures do not include duplicate entries and those already in local authority, voluntary and co-operative housing or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, and as such, are the most accurate that are available.
By way of illustrating this point, I understand that one local authority wrote to all households held on file as requiring social housing in August of this year, in the context of changes to the social housing allocation procedures locally. In 2013, at the time of the last full assessment, the authority had a waiting list of 6,440 households. In response to a Freedom of Information request this year it reported 8,043 households on file for social housing purposes. As a result of the recent correspondence and based on the responses received the local authority identified 5,790 qualified households on its waiting list at the end of October with a further 528 on transfer lists. The local authority in question accepts that some households may yet still respond and is open to that eventuality. This example illustrates the risk of taking the waiting list as being the number of households on file at a point in time without the requisite check for ongoing eligibility and need.
I recognise that we need up to date and comprehensive data on housing need on an on-going basis but this data needs to be robust and must be gathered based on a sound methodology. In order to ensure we have that data, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 includes a commitment to undertake a statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments on an annual basis from 2016 onwards.
586. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government what the Dublin Docklands Development Authority is doing, as owner of the Longboat Quay common areas, to ensure that the cost for the Longboat Quay fire safety works is urgently addressed, so works can commence on fire safety. [45162/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matters raised by the Deputy are currently before the Courts and, as a consequence, are sub judice. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.
