Written Answers Nos. 46-67
46. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to review local government with a view to re-establishing town councils in some towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11573/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra48. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to re-establish town councils, given that the new municipal district system has seen local authority spending in former town council areas decrease as a result of the removal of the focused town council structure, coupled with the removal of dedicated block grant funding for these administrative areas. [11530/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 48 together.
The previous Government’s decision to replace town authorities with a new model of municipal governance was designed to strengthen local government within counties and to address widely acknowledged and long-standing weaknesses and anomalies in the previous system, including divided administration between town and county authorities, for example, in relation to matters such as planning, rating and charges.
In 2015, after one full year of the operation of municipal districts, a broadly based Advisory Group was convened to carry out a review of their operation, in conjunction with a Local Government Forum for engagement with the Association of Irish Local Government. Feedback from these deliberations and from surveys of local authority members and chief executives suggests that the revised structures are generally operating well but will need more time to bed down fully. The work of the Group is proceeding.
In addition, the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to the preparation of a report for Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability and to ensure that local government funding, structures and responsibilities strengthen local democracy. This will include consideration of specific issues such as directly elected mayors in cities, devolution of new powers to local authorities, size of local electoral areas, and town and borough councils. The results of the recent operational review of the revised local government structures will provide a key input to inform the consideration of these issues.
On the question of funding for the municipal districts, in 2014 General Purpose Grant allocations to local authorities were made in respect of the local authority area as a whole taking account of any former borough or town councils within the area. To ease the transition of local authorities to new financial arrangements because of the move of water related costs from local authorities to Irish Water in 2014, and funding of local authorities from the Local Government Fund through the introduction of Local Property Tax in 2015, the Government decided that no local authority would receive less income from LPT in 2015 and 2016 than they received from their General Purpose Grant allocation in 2014.
Accordingly, the LPT allocations for 2015 and 2016 take account of the historical General Purpose Grant funding provided to any former borough or town councils within the local authority area. It is a matter for the individual local authorities themselves to decide on their priorities for funding of services.
47. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to discuss enacting compulsory purchase orders to recover property from investment funds which may be land-banking sites which have the potential for development with the Department of Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11183/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the first instance, I wish to clarify I have no powers in relation to the initiation of Compulsory Purchase Orders, this being the responsibility of the relevant local authorities. However, I believe that the key issue raised by the Deputy’s Question relates to how we find ways to address current housing development and supply issues. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is progressing a range of key actions aimed at addressing these very issues. It is clear that over the longer term we need a functioning housing supply system and availability and viability of large ready to go housing development sites, along with house builders capable of supplying, is a key part of that system.
By mid-summer I intend to finalise an “Action Plan for Housing” which will look at all options to accelerate delivery of supply and ensure that we are building the right mix of housing types in the right locations and for the various categories of people that need housing, particularly in city centre areas, avoiding cities and towns expanding exponentially physically and creating a range of wider infrastructural challenges, such as in the schools and transport areas. The preparation of the Plan will take account of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to review the CPO powers available to local authorities in order to fast-track the opening up of land.
49. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to request Irish Water to publicise its payment figures for water charges for the past two billing periods. [11570/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water customer billing and collection levels are a matter for the utility and one in which I have no function. Irish Water has published information on bill payment levels to the end of its 4th billing cycle on its website at www.water.ie.
The 4th cycle of bills issued to customers in January and February 2016 and covered services provided in the last three months of 2015. The information published shows that at the end of March 2016, 975,000 customers, or 64% of Irish Water’s anticipated customer base, had paid all or part of their bills for services delivered in 2015. This compares to some 928,000 or 61% of the customer base at the end of the 3rd billing cycle.
Irish Water began issuing bills to their domestic customers in April 2015. Domestic revenue was €144.2m or 53% of income due from charges in 2015; €42.3m and €33.4m were collected in the third and fourth billing cycles respectively.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
50. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to discuss immediately transferring land from the National Asset Management Agency to local authorities to increase the supply of social housing with the Department of Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11182/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, in relation to the prospect of the specific transfer of land to local authorities or other state bodies, I have to emphasise that NAMA does not own property or land. Its role in relation to property and land is that of a secured lender. In that capacity, NAMA requires its debtors and receivers to openly market the sale of properties and land to ensure that the best possible price is achieved at the time of the sale. Transactions are conducted on a commercial basis by reference to assessed market value. This is required under Section 10 of the NAMA Act. The Government has enabled and facilitated NAMA in playing an important role in the delivery of housing supply generally and social housing in particular. In that context NAMA affords public bodies first option on the acquisition of land and property required for demonstrable public purposes. In Budget 2016, the Minister for Finance announced that NAMA, having carried out a review of residentially zoned sites under the control of its debtors and receivers, is aiming to fund the delivery of a target 20,000 additional new homes before the end of 2020.
With regard to land currently available for social housing development, the Housing Agency, in consultation with my Department and local authorities, is updating data and developing a detailed database and GIS map of local authority owned lands, as well as the Land Aggregation Scheme lands, showing their location, size, boundaries and other information. This exercise has identified some 700 such sites nationally. This map will be updated during the lifetime of the Social Housing Strategy to record the development and use of lands.
51. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the adoption of the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area national 2016 to 2035 in April 2016 and the implications this will have for his Department in a number of areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11544/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA specific requirement in relation to the preparation of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area is that it has regard to the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), Regional Plans and County Development Plans and this indeed has been the case in the preparation of the 2016-2035 Strategy. In fact, Chapter 2 and Page 16 in particular of the adopted GDA Transport Strategy, clearly set out where the strategy fits into an integrated spatial and transport planning hierarchy at national, regional and local levels. In addition, the GDA Transport Strategy will be a factor in the preparation of the National Planning Framework (NPF) as the successor to the NSS and subsequent Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs).
The suggestion that the Strategy will impact adversely on job creation in Wicklow and the GDA is unsubstantiated. Based on projected growth in population and employment, the Transport strategy identifies the East Wicklow M11 corridor as the most significantly growing part of the Region in terms of travel demand, outside the Dublin Docklands area and M4 corridor, much closer to Dublin City.
It is critical that the Dublin City Region has a long term transport plan in place to guide and inform future strategy and investment decisions and to ensure that bottlenecks can be addressed before they become seriously damaging to the economy of the region and the country as a whole. The ambition of and potential for growth in Wicklow can be best realised in the context of such a Regional strategy, through local implementation plans.
52. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why responsibility for delivering 80% of social housing, as outlined in Social Housing Strategy 2020, is being handed over to the private sector; and if he will review this policy. [11596/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe private rental sector has grown to become a major component of the housing market, meeting the accommodation needs of approximately 320,000 or one-fifth of all households in the State. Close to one-third of households living in the sector are in receipt of housing support in the form of rent supplement or other State support and, as such , the sector is also of key importance for the provision of social housing. This is recognised in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 goal to meet the needs of 75,000 households in the sector, primarily through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Under the Strategy, the State will also take measures to enhance the capacity of the sector to contribute in a more sustainable and cost effective way to deliver social housing supports.
A particular application of this is the roll-out of HAP on a phased basis to all local authority areas. HAP is currently operational in 19 local authority areas with more than 9,000 households currently in receipt of housing support under the scheme. The scheme provides for a better integrated and more streamlined service for households seeking support from the State and gives local authorities greater flexibility to provide assistance to those in need of social housing support. HAP provides a stronger and more secure form of State housing support in the private rental sector.
HAP also provides households with the opportunity to move to other forms of social housing as they become available, by accessing the local authority transfer list. The scheme also avoids a potential poverty trap and incentivises people to work, by providing for recipients to work full-time but to retain benefits.
The Government also recognises that, in order to meet the housing needs of varying household types, more options beyond full State social housing or full private home ownership or rental are required. In that regard, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to delivering an Affordable Rental pilot scheme within the first 100 days of this Government. The scheme, which will be a priority for delivery under the ‘Action Plan for Housing’ being prepared by the Government, is currently being developed in my Department.
€10m has been made available for the scheme in 2016. This is to be an on-going annual commitment to secure a long term increase in the supply of housing for affordable rental. The 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.
With regard to the operation of the private rental sector more generally, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 introduced a series of major reforms to the private rental sector in Ireland, by providing rent certainty and safeguards for both tenants and landlords. My intention is to build on that, by developing a national policy for the private rented sector to support the creation of a vibrant sector underpinned by greater security of tenure, a more stable investment framework and measures to support greater supply in key demand areas.
53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to immediately revise the statutory instrument that introduced payment for green bin charges and ensure that, in the interests of the environment, all recycling is incentivised by remaining free of charge by local authorities at bring centres and by waste management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11599/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing close consultation with Minister Naughten, I have already publicly stated that I will remove the mandatory minimum pay-by-weight charge for the collection of recyclable (or “green bin”) waste as part of the new household waste collection regime , by means of amending regulations. Collectors of household kerbside waste will not be required under law to charge for collecting this waste stream. There is no legal requirement, nor is there any intention to introduce a legal requirement, for civic amenity sites or bring centres to charge for accepting recyclable material.
54. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to direct local authorities to accept social housing applications from victims of domestic violence who have fled their homes but who are ineligible if they retain joint ownership of the home occupied by their abusive partners. [11571/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic abuse rests with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the delivery of such services is managed through the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. A housing authority may provide short-term emergency housing to persons who are forced to leave their homes because of domestic violence, without having to assess their eligibility for social housing support or include them on the authority’s housing waiting list. Such support can be provided where victims of domestic violence meet the homeless definition set out in the Housing Act 1988, which is not prescriptive and in practice will generally include victims of domestic violence.
Where a social housing assessment is an appropriate longer-term response to a case of domestic violence, the household concerned may be determined by the relevant housing authority to be in need of social housing support where, in accordance with the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, the authority considers that the household’s current accommodation is unsuitable in terms of adequate housing provision, having regard to particular household circumstances or exceptional medical or compassionate grounds. This allows a housing authority to consider a victim of domestic violence as having a housing need and to be placed on a housing list, subject to the household meeting all other eligibility criteria.
In the past there may have been difficulties for separated persons in meeting the alternative accommodation eligibility criterion for social housing support where no deed of separation existed and no determination had been made as to the future of the family home. In order to provide more flexibility to housing authorities to deal with cases where the ownership of the family home had not yet been finalised, the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 was amended in 2014 to allow authorities to provide such households with social housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme or the Housing Assistance Payment scheme until ownership of the family home is resolved in a formal separation or divorce settlement.
55. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his progress in ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016, as committed to in the Government's February 2013 homeless policy statement. [11437/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is a necessary focus at the moment on providing suitable emergency accommodation for homeless families currently in hotels. However, the Government is fully committed to ending long-term involuntary homelessness through the housing-led approach articulated in the Government’s 2013 Homelessness Policy Statement and through the detailed measures set out in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness (May 2014) and in the Action Plan to Address Homelessness (December 2014). Substantial progress has been made in implementing these plans. Progress updates are provided to the relevant Cabinet Committee and these updates are made publicly available on my Department's website. Some of the measures successfully implemented to date include the public awareness campaigns that have been implemented by the Dublin housing authorities, the Department of Social Protection and the Private Residential Tenancies Board, designed to better inform tenants in private rented accommodation of their rights; the tenancy sustainment arrangements in relation to Rent Supplement operated by the Department of Social Protection; and the introduction of the pilot Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) for Homeless households in the Dublin region.
My Department will continue to pursue the full implementation of the range of measures designed to achieve the Government’s commitment to end long-term involuntary homelessness, working in partnership with other relevant Government Departments and public bodies.
56. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to fully review the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme, including the criteria for inclusion under it. [11180/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The scheme is applicable to dwellings which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In addition, applicants under the scheme must be able to demonstrate to the Board that they have no practicable options, other than under the scheme, to secure the remediation of their homes.
My Department is in regular contact with the Pyrite Resolution Board and the Housing Agency with regard to the implementation of the scheme and is satisfied that the arrangements that are currently in place will facilitate the remediation of approximately 600 dwellings by the end of this year. In this regard, I have no proposals to undertake a full review of the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme or to revise the scheme’s eligibility criteria.
While a full review of the scheme is not under consideration, the National Standards Authority of Ireland has commenced a review of I.S. 398 -1:2013 in the light of practical experience since the standard was first introduced in January 2013. This standard sets out the national procedures for the assessment of pyritic damage and for the testing of pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material of dwellings and is a key document in both the operation of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 and the pyrite remediation scheme. My Department understands that this review is now at an advanced stage and that a public consultation will be announced in due course.
57. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures his Department has taken to keep global warming below 1.5° Celsius more than pre-industrial levels, as agreed at the 2015 United Nations Paris climate change conference. [11330/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra212. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to account for Ireland’s non-emissions trading system greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets for 2020 and the possibility of attaining such targets; the penalty that will apply for each percentage point that Ireland is short in reaching these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11218/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra263. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how he will achieve internationally set carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11866/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 212 and 263 together.
For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) No. 406/2009/EC. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20 per cent below their value in 2005. This is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction target allocated under the ESD and one shared only by Denmark and Luxembourg. The 2013 target is based on the average of emissions for the years 2008-2010. The target for each of the years 2014 through 2019 is on a straight-line trajectory between the targets for 2013 and 2020, and surpluses in one year can be used to cover deficits in any subsequent year. The average incidence of these targets is a 12% reduction relative to 2005.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in March 2016 projected emissions for 2020 which indicate that Ireland’s emissions at that stage could be in the range of 6-11% below 2005 levels. On a cumulative basis, Ireland will have a deficit of between 4 and 12 Megatonnes Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MtCO2e). The projections suggest that Ireland may have a cumulative deficit of units in 2018 or 2019. Some of this deficit can be addressed by means of the retirement of units carried forward from the 2008-2012 period, and some additional purchases may be required depending on the outturn. It is not possible to quantify these at present, having regard to both the quantum and price of carbon units to be purchased at the time.
A Member State demonstrating compliance with an annual target retires Annual Emissions Allocations (units from the Kyoto Protocol Flexible Mechanisms) approximately 18 months after the year end, so it is unlikely that any expenditure required will occur before 2020 at the earliest.
The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with our EU and international commitments, is well understood by the Government, as reflected in the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, published in April 2014, and now underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 which was enacted in December 2015. The National Policy Position provides a high-level policy direction for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050. Statutory authority for the plans is set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
In accordance with Section 4 of the Act, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government must submit a National Mitigation Plan to Government for approval by June 2017 at the latest. Work is well underway on the development of the National Mitigation Plan, the primary objective of which will be to track implementation of measures already underway and identify additional measures in the longer term to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and progress the overall national low carbon transition agenda to 2050. The first iteration of the National Mitigation Plan will place particular focus on putting the necessary measures in place to address the challenge to 2020 but also in terms of planning ahead to ensure that appropriate policies and measures will be in place beyond that.
The ultimate objective of successive National Mitigation Plans is to incrementally achieve this low carbon transition vision by 2050. In that context, the National Mitigation Plan will have regard to Ireland’s obligations under the current 2009 Effort Sharing Decision, the Paris Agreement and any likely future EU and international obligations that may arise, including new national targets to be agreed under the 2030 climate and energy package.
The Paris Agreement sets out a long term goal to put the world on track to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees. In this regard it is noted that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been tasked with evaluating what will be the specific policy implications of this goal with a special report to be published in 2018. Notwithstanding this, the overall outcome of the Paris Conference means that the long-term objective that Ireland has already established in the National Policy Position, and that is now underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, namely to pursue substantial decarbonisation of the energy, transport and built environment sectors as well as pursuing neutrality in the land sector, will now be undertaken within a broader international context.
This means that the more ambitious actions that will be required over time can be taken on the basis of shared experience and cooperation with other States and regions, in the knowledge that all countries will be moving in the same direction, crucial for a small open economy like Ireland’s that competes in global markets.
58. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the additional regulatory costs of construction that have been imposed since the introduction of the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014; how he will reduce these costs for new single-unit and multi-unit housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11569/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Priority Question No 29 on today’s order paper which sets out the position in this matter.
59. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the annual rental value of each vacant property and land holding of his Department. [11427/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not own any properties or land. Properties occupied by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works.
60. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach the details of the new Department configurations proposed in the programme for Government. [11439/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government refers to the appointment of a Cabinet Minister for Housing and a new Cabinet level Minister for Regional Development and Rural Affairs. On 6 May, I nominated Heather Humphreys T.D. as Minister for Rural Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht and nominated Simon Coveney T.D. as Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
The new Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht will retain all of the functions of the former Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It will also be assigned responsibility for the roll-out of rural broadband and the development of the post office network. In addition, this new Department will be assigned responsibility for a range of rural community development functions including the Leader programme, an expanded town and village renewal scheme and the Tidy Towns scheme, the Western Development Commission, the implementation of the report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, the dormant accounts fund and social enterprise. The Department will also oversee the implementation of Programme for Government commitments to initiate a new Atlantic economic corridor and the development of new Community Development Schemes for rural areas. The new Minister will be supported in the broad remit of her responsibilities by three recently appointed Ministers of State for Regional Economic Development, for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy and for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources.
The appointment of a Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government will provide political leadership on improving the supply of quality affordable homes for families and ending the homelessness crisis. He will be supported in this new Department by the recently appointed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal.
61. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach to bring all environmental functions including nature, wildlife, water protection, waste and pollution control together under one Department of the environment, climate and natural heritage. [11583/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to reassure the Deputy that this Government is committed to protecting our environment and natural heritage. The Programme for Government identifies climate change as the global challenge of our generation which requires radical and ambitious thinking. Tackling climate change and promoting sustainability across all sectors is essential to improving and protecting our environment.
The Government’s decision to move environment related policy into a single department with responsibility for climate change and energy will strengthen our response and ensure a joined-up approach. It will give environment policy the full attention and resources of a single department.
62. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach to re-orient the focus of the newly established Departments in order# to bring environmental, climate change and natural heritage functions under the remit of a single Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11717/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to reassure the Deputy that this Government is committed to protecting our environment and natural heritage. The Programme for Government identifies climate change as the global challenge of our generation which requires radical and ambitious thinking. Tackling climate change and promoting sustainability across all sectors is essential to improving and protecting our environment.
The Government’s decision to move environment related policy into a single department with responsibility for climate change and energy will strengthen our response and ensure a joined-up approach. It will give environment policy the full attention and resources of a single department.
63. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach why he abolished the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and if he will bring all environmental functions together under one Department. [11720/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to reassure the Deputy that this Government is committed to protecting our environment and natural heritage. The Programme for Government identifies climate change as the global challenge of our generation which requires radical and ambitious thinking. Tackling climate change and promoting sustainability across all sectors is essential to improving and protecting our environment.
The Government’s decision to move environment related policy into a single department with responsibility for climate change and energy will strengthen our response and ensure a joined-up approach. It will give environment policy the full attention and resources of a single department.
64. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of increasing funding for Traveller initiatives for 2017 in tabular form. [11512/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total funding available to my Department in respect of Traveller and Roma initiatives for 2016 is €2,205,000 of which €1,350,000, in respect of funding for Traveller community groups and national-level NGOs, transferred to my Department from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government on 01 January 2016. This was in addition to a sum of €550,000 which transferred to my Department from the Department of Social Protection (for the Special Initiative for Travellers) on 01 January 2015.
My Department is currently undertaking a review of the funding in relation to Traveller and Roma initiatives for 2017 to take account of needs and of emerging priorities for the new Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy which will be in place later this year. The review will be completed in time for consideration in the context of the 2017 Estimates process. Details of any adjustments to the current allocation for Traveller and Roma initiatives will be announced in due course in the normal way as part of the 2017 Estimates.
65. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding and resources she will ring-fence in budget 2017 to ensure the full implementation of the Istanbul Convention, the second national strategy on gender-based violence and the victims' directive, as promised in the programme for Government. [11175/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which contains a range of legislative and administrative actions, including those actions required for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, was published in January. The strategy is a whole of Government approach aimed at combatting domestic and sexual violence and its implementation is a priority for my Department. Many of the strategy's actions are the responsibility of other Government Departments and agencies. The strategy was devised in such a way that all of the actions in the strategy can be delivered within current resource allocations. As stated in the Strategy at the time of publication the Strategy's action plan is intended to be a living document which will continue to be revised, added to and updated on an ongoing basis. The resourcing of additional actions will form part of the normal estimates process. Likewise funding for the requirements of the Victims Directive will form part of the estimates process.
66. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for civil legal aid received, approved, pending and refused in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11186/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
The applications are for both legal aid and advice. Only legal aid applications for representation in court would involve an application for a legal aid certificate.
|
Year |
Number of applications received |
Legal Aid Certificates issued |
Private Solicitor Certificates issued |
Number of applications dealt with |
Pending (on waiting list) |
Refused |
|
2006 |
9,689 |
n/a |
1,719 |
13,154 |
984 |
n/a |
|
2007 |
10,164 |
2,470 |
2,306 |
13,905 |
1,163 |
n/a |
|
2008 |
11,888 |
2,543 |
2,983 |
14,917 |
1,681 |
457 |
|
2009 |
14,073 |
2,878 |
4,012 |
16,170 |
2,228 |
430 |
|
2010 |
17,175 |
3,154 |
5,279 |
16,632 |
3,153 |
n/a |
|
2011 |
18,657 |
3,252 |
4,862 |
17,825 |
4,443 |
319 |
|
2012 |
16,870 |
3,300 |
5,082 |
17,652 |
5,014 |
n/a |
|
2013 |
16,851 |
3,882 |
5,640 |
17,304 |
5,067 |
330 |
|
2014 |
15,531 |
3,816 |
5,241 |
18,338 |
3,412 |
280 |
|
2015 |
14,923 |
3,912 |
5,623 |
17,959 |
2,319 |
263 |
|
2016 (end April) |
4,575 |
1,282 |
1,958 |
n/a |
2,232 |
86 |
1. The second column shows the number of applications for Civil Legal Aid and Advice in each of the years requested. This figure does not include applications for asylum and related matters.
2. The third column sets out the number of legal aid certificates issued for representation in court. This figure relates to cases dealt with by Legal Aid Board law centre solicitors only and does not include asylum and related matters.
3. The fourth column sets out the number of certificates issued to persons to enable them to be represented, generally in the District Court, by private solicitors. Again it does not include certificates issued for services for asylum and related matters.
4. The fifth column shows the number of cases dealt with within the law centre network in each year. Some of the applications in this column may have been made in a previous year and are cases that remain in progress. These figures do not include asylum and related matters.
5. The sixth column showing the number of applicants who were awaiting legal services at a particular point in time. It should be noted that since 2012 when the Board introduced a ‘triage’ type approach for certain circumstances, a portion of these applicants will have had a first consultation with a solicitor and will be awaiting a further appointment. (Of the 2,232 awaiting services on 1 May last, 868 have had a first consultation with a solicitor).
6. The final column records the number of cases refused a legal aid certificate for the years where that figure is available. These figures do not include asylum and related matters.
67. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who were refused criminal legal aid in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11209/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. I have no function in this matter. The Courts Service has advised that it does not compile the statistics requested by the Deputy in respect of the refusal of applications for Criminal Legal Aid by the courts.
