Written Answers Nos. 332-347
332. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Ireland has drawn down any funding under the European Commission’s LIFE programme from 2014 to 2015; if so, the projects which have drawn down money; and if there will be any other calls for proposals under the said programme for 2016. [22086/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU LIFE Programme is a dedicated EU funding instrument for the environment, with the aim of contributing to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation. The Programme is administered directly by the European Commission with funding allocated to projects on merit in accordance with established criteria and following a rigorous assessment process.
In the period 2014 to 2015 four Irish projects, to the value of some €17m, secured funding totalling €9.8m under the Programme. Details of these projects are set out in the table.
|
Project Title |
Description |
Total Budget |
Life Funding |
|
Raptor Life |
Connecting and restoring habitats for Hen Harrier, Merlin, Atlantic Salmon and Brook Lamprey in Duhallow. |
€3,075,846 |
€1,537,923 |
|
Life Kerry |
Sustainable land use management for the conservation of the freshwater pearl mussel. |
€5,010,581 |
€2,439,924 |
|
Wiser Life |
Reducing and reusing waste, diverting it from landfill, creating green jobs, reducing resource consumption, and improving access to innovative ecological education systems. |
€3,622,245 |
€1,802,407 |
|
Life Irish Raised Bogs |
Restoring active raised bog in Ireland’s SAC network 2016-2020. |
€5,408,249 |
€4,056,186 |
The 2016 call for co-funding under the LIFE Programme was launched on 19 May 2016 with various closing dates in September 2016 depending on the project topic being selected. In its role as National Contact Point for the Life Programme, my Department has responsibility to promote the Programme and to disseminate information as widely as possible.
Comprehensive information on the Programme, including details of the current call, is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/environment/environment and on the European Commission’s website at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm.
333. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of moneys paid to Dublin City Council in 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22115/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including providing necessary housing supports and fostering communities in partnership with local government and other local development bodies. In order to deliver on this broad business agenda, my Department allocates significant resources to a wide range of organisations, including local authorities. The total funding provided by my Department directly to Dublin City Council up to 14 July 2016 is €4,748,301.05.
334. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the balance of funds will be paid to Dublin City Council for Ballymun regeneration works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22116/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is in discussions with Dublin City Council regarding the finalisation of construction and associated costs for the Ballymun regeneration programme. Once agreement is reached, outstanding amounts, if any, will be recouped to the Council.
335. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding provided by his Department to Fingal County Council over the past ten years to finance remediation works due to fire safety structural deficiencies in social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22128/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is a matter for each relevant local authority. In relation to the Deputy’s specific query, my Department has not provided funding to Fingal County Council over the past 10 years in respect of fire safety structural deficiencies in social housing stock.
336. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department have yet responded to the local authority regarding the tendering process for construction of social housing units (detail supplied); if this has not been done, when same will be done; when same will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22129/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe advancement through design, planning and construction of the social housing project referred to by the Deputy is a matter, in the first instance, for the County Council.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department issued post- tender budget approval to the Council in respect of this project on 12 July 2016, and its advancement on site is now a matter for the Council.
337. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if county councils are required to pay for the county coroner; and if so, the amount this costs on a county basis. [22153/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Annual Financial Statements of Local Authorities do not provide the detail of the payments to individual Coroners; however, they do show the Operation of Morgue and Coroner Expenses, which would include many other costs associated with the service. The following table details these costs for 2014, the most recent year for which audited accounts are available. Issues relating to the Coroner Service are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.
|
Local Authority |
Operation of Morgue and Coroner Expenses |
|
Carlow |
100,152 |
|
Cavan |
146,134 |
|
Clare |
195,071 |
|
Cork City |
826,722 |
|
Cork County |
594,349 |
|
Donegal |
368,627 |
|
Dublin City |
3,564,896 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
392,651 |
|
Fingal |
405,342 |
|
Galway City |
183,966 |
|
Galway County |
445,288 |
|
Kerry |
374,814 |
|
Kildare |
302,276 |
|
Kilkenny |
161,301 |
|
Laois |
111,630 |
|
Leitrim |
62,413 |
|
Limerick City & County |
343,558 |
|
Longford |
77,720 |
|
Louth |
242,095 |
|
Mayo |
258,024 |
|
Meath |
245,393 |
|
Monaghan |
124,566 |
|
Offaly |
141,733 |
|
Roscommon |
145,826 |
|
Sligo |
374,553 |
|
South Dublin |
450,161 |
|
Tipperary |
290,265 |
|
Waterford City & County |
276,983 |
|
Westmeath |
260,374 |
|
Wexford |
216,450 |
|
Wicklow |
169,867 |
338. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the current situation with a company (details supplied), whereby customers must now pay a standing charge of €199 per year and that customers now have to pay this money in advance; the Government’s position in respect of this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22177/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn an open market, it is a matter for a waste collector to set charges at the level they consider to be competitive, in compliance with the requirements of environmental and other applicable legislation. However, since the waste industry began releasing its proposed prices under pay-by-weight last month, the Government has relayed its concern to the industry generally regarding the reported escalation of waste bills for customers of certain companies.
On foot of above, I actively engaged with representatives of the waste industry to agree a way forward that results in customers paying no more than they are currently paying for waste over the next 12 months. The approach agreed with industry is by way of a price freeze to end-June 2017.
The operation of the price freeze by the industry will be closely monitored by Government and, in the event of evidence of the agreement being breached legislation will be brought forward to address the issue. In this regard, my Department has met with representatives of the waste industry and will continue to liaise with operators as necessary with regard to the consistent implementation of the agreement.
339. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline Ireland's target under Conference of the Parties 21. [22203/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 12 December 2015, an ambitious new legally binding, global agreement on climate change was agreed in Paris. The Paris Agreement puts in place the necessary framework for all countries to take ambitious action, as well as providing for a transparency system to ensure that ensures all countries can have confidence in each other’s efforts. The 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. It should be 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.
The Agreement aims to tackle 95% of global emissions through 188 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Ireland will contribute to the Paris Agreement via the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) tabled by the EU on behalf of Member States, which commits to 40% reduction in EU-wide emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. The specific details of the contribution to this 40% reduction to be made by each Member State remain to be defined and will be announced as part of the 2030 Climate and Energy package in due course.
340. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has notified all operators of the Government's decision to suspend pay-by-weight bin charges; his plans to stop private operators who have introduced the pay-by-weight bin charges since 1 July 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22225/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegislation has been introduced to remove mandatory pay-by-weight charging for household waste collection. However, it is still open to a company to charge on a pay-by-weight basis. Indeed, many companies already have a pay-by-weight element to their charging structure and their customers are quite happy with this approach.
However, in response to the reported escalation of waste bills for customers of certain companies, particularly in relation to some proposed increases in service charges, I have actively engaged with waste industry representatives to agree a way forward that results in customers paying no more than they are currently paying for waste over the next 12 months, by means of a price freeze to end-June 2017.
The operation of the price freeze by the industry will be closely monitored by Government and, in the event of evidence of the agreement being breached legislation will be brought forward to address the issue. In this regard, my Department has met with representatives of the waste industry and will continue to liaise with operators as necessary with regard to the consistent implementation of the agreement.
341. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the provision which excludes specifically adapted bungalows from the tenant purchase scheme; if the terms of the scheme have been examined for equality; the options open to the tenants in relation to purchasing alternative sites where the local authority is not obligated to sell the adapted property and they would have a desire to purchase a site and a requirement for specific adaptations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22237/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme and applies to all existing local authority houses, other than those classes of houses excluded under legislation. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having been in receipt of social housing support for a minimum period of one year and having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum.
The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 governing the Scheme provides for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses specifically designed for older persons, group Traveller housing and houses provided to facilitate people with disabilities transferring from institutional care to community-based living. The Regulations do not exclude bungalows, including bungalows which have been adapted to meet specific needs, from sale under the scheme.
Housing authorities may, within the provisions of the Regulations, exclude certain houses which, in the opinion of the authority, should not be sold for reasons such as proper stock or estate management. It is a matter for each individual housing authority to administer the Scheme in its operational area in line with the overarching provisions of the governing legislation for the scheme, and in a manner appropriate to its housing requirements.
The allocation of social housing support to qualified households, including households with specific adaptation requirements, is a matter for the housing authority concerned, under its allocation scheme, made in accordance with Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011.
In line with the commitment in the new Programme for a Partnership Government, I intend to undertake a review of the 2016 scheme following its first 12 months of operation. I will bring forward any changes to the terms and conditions of the scheme which are considered necessary based on the evidence gathered at that stage.
342. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when funding will be provided for a sewerage and waste water scheme in Mountbellew, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22281/16]
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.
If Deputies have any queries on specific issues in relation to water services, they may be aware that 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.
343. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average length of time for social housing projects to complete the four stage approval process; and the average length of time to complete each of the four stages. [22316/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation is not available in a clearcut manner in relation to the time taken through the 4-stage approval process in relation to social housing construction projects because, first of all, the process has only been rolled out in its current form relatively recently. In that time, the number of projects that have moved through all 4 stages would not provide a basis for generating a meaningful average. Secondly, my Department encourages a pragmatic approach to the engagement with local authorities around the approval of social housing construction projects, as well as informal technical dialogue to resolve issues. That approach can result in either a truncating of the 4-stage process - for example, stages 2 and 3 may be assessed together in some cases - or it might add to the time it takes to issue an approval in nominal terms, to allow for technical-focused dialogue, but would be a more productive approach in terms of getting projects from conception to completion as efficiently as possible.
The 4-stage approval process is a streamlining of the stages covered under Capital Works Management Framework and consists of:
- Stage 1 - Capital Appraisal (establish the business case);
- Stage 2 - Brief pre-planning developed design and cost check;
- Stage 3 - Pre-tender cost check;
- Stage 4 - Tender approval.
These 4 stages are advanced largely in parallel with the normal local authority work on planning, designing and tendering of social housing construction projects. Therefore projects continue to be advanced while stages are cleared and the approval process does not negatively impact on the overall delivery.
The time taken for advancement through the various stages will always vary, with the quality and completeness of the initial proposal and the subsequent submissions a key input in this regard, along with the scale and complexity of individual projects. During this time when projects are being advanced and reviewed, the local authority advances the issues relating to planning, design, procurement and statutory consents.
While I am satisfied that the pragmatic approach to the approval of social housing projects is the right balance between getting projects advanced, while ensuring the oversight required for publicly-funded construction projects, the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness published today commits to the early establishment of a high-level Housing Delivery Office within my Department and to carry out a further review of the social housing approval process within three months.
344. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the time to complete the four stage approval process for social housing at St. Finian’s Avenue, Lucan, County Dublin. [22317/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra345. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the time to complete the four stage approval process for the 11 social housing units at St. Mark's Green, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. [22318/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra346. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the time to complete the four stage approval process for the 18 social housing units in the Mayfield Estate, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. [22319/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra347. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the time to complete the four stage approval process for the 37 social housing units at Lett’s Field, Dublin 22. [22320/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 344 to 347, inclusive, together.
The 4-stage approval process, under which assessments are carried out for publicly-funded capital projects for which my Department is the sanctioning authority, is a streamlining of the 9 stages covered under Capital Works Management Framework.
The 4 stages are:
Stage 1 – Capital Appraisal (establish the business case);
Stage 2 – Brief pre-planning developed design and cost check;
Stage 3 – Pre-tender cost check;
Stage 4 – Tender approval.
These 4 stages are advanced largely in parallel with the normal local authority work on planning, designing and tendering of social housing construction projects. Therefore projects continue to be advanced while stages are cleared and the approval process does not negatively impact on the overall delivery.
The time taken for advancement through the various stages will always vary, with the quality and completeness of the initial proposal and subsequent submissions a key input in this regard, along with the scale and complexity of individual projects. My Department also encourages informal technical dialogue to resolve issues and while that might add to the time it takes to issue an approval in nominal terms, it is normally a more productive engagement in terms of getting projects from conception to completion as efficiently as possible.
With regard to the four projects in question, St. Finian’s Avenue pre-dates the use of the 4-stage approval process; this project was initially approved in March 2014 and is now nearing completion. The position in respect of the other 3 projects in question is as follows:
|
Project |
Stage 1 Approval |
Stage 2 Approval |
Stage 3 Submission |
Comments |
|
Mayfield Phase 2 |
07/05/2015 |
16/02/2016 |
28/06/2016 |
Stage 3 submission under consideration |
|
St. Mark's Green |
07/05/2015 |
18/11/2015 |
29/06/2016 |
Stage 3 submission under consideration |
|
Lett's Field |
05/02/2016 |
04/03/2016 |
29/06/2016 |
Stage 3 submission under consideration |
