Written Answers Nos. 153-162
153. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the detail of the announcement on allowing the Irish diaspora to vote in the presidential election by 2025; and his plans in this regard. [14480/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recently decided to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution to give the right to vote at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State, including Northern Ireland. In order to inform public discourse on the significant policy change proposed, an Options Paper is being published this week. The Options Paper will set out the range of options available to give effect to the recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution. It will also provide a basis for a discussion on voting rights, which will be one of the topics to be addressed at the Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin next May.
These considerations will inform the preparation of the necessary legislation for a referendum. If approved in a referendum, the extension of the franchise, as proposed, would require modernisation of the voter registration process and the introduction of arrangements to facilitate citizens to exercise their franchise from outside the State. The Government has agreed that my Department should now commence work to effect improvements in the registration of voters.
154. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if local authorities are obliged to purchase houses constructed in new housing developments which are set aside for social housing through Part V; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14296/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a number of options open to a planning authority when making an agreement under Part V of Planning and Development Act 2000:
- the transfer to the ownership of the planning authority of a part or parts of the land subject to the planning application;
- the building and transfer to the ownership of the planning authority, or persons nominated by the authority, of a number of housing units on the site subject to the planning application;
- the transfer to the ownership of the planning authority, or persons nominated by the authority, of housing units on any other land in the functional area of the authority;
- the granting of a lease of housing units to the planning authority, either on the site subject to the planning application or on any other land within the functional area of the authority;
- a combination of two or more of the options above.
Ministerial Guidelines on Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, issued in January 2017, advise planning authorities that, subject to the availability of funding, the option they should pursue as a priority is the acquisition of social housing on the development site, by means of transfer of ownership to the planning authority or to an Approved Housing Body.
155. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding water connection charges; and his views on whether these fees are excessive. [14297/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it in accordance with a water charges plan, to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Section 22(5) of the Act provides that a water charges plan may provide for charges in respect of the provision of a service connection (within the meaning of the Water Services Act 2007) to, or in respect of, a premises.
In its decision on Irish Water's Water Charges Plan, published in October 2014, the CER stated that, until it made a decision on Irish Water's new connection charges, Irish Water should continue to apply the rates charged by the local authorities at 31 December 2013. In its Water Charges Plan Decision Paper of 5 March 2015, the CER published a list of the areas that it would be progressing, which includes the development of a connection charging policy.
Planning authorities were requested in Circular PS 21/2013 issued by my Department on 30 December 2013 to operate revised procedures in relation to the application of development contribution levies. In respect of planning permissions granted prior to 1 January 2014, planning authorities were advised that the full development contribution charge (where such was attached as a condition of the planning permission), including, where relevant, the portion in respect of water services infrastructure, must be paid to the planning authority in accordance with the terms of the permission.
In respect of planning permissions granted after 1 January 2014, planning authorities were advised that when granting planning permission, they should no longer include a portion in respect of water services infrastructure in any development contribution applied. Such charges would be levied by Irish Water instead. Planning authorities were further advised that new development contribution schemes made after that date should not contain charges in respect of water services infrastructure.
Currently, over 900 different connection charges exist. I understand from the CER that Irish Water is currently developing proposals for a single national connection charging policy aimed at developing a more harmonised methodology for connections to the public water and wastewater networks. A single national policy on the provision of network connection services is a common model employed in other utilities in Ireland as well as internationally. The CER expects to be able to consult publicly on Irish Water's proposals in the middle of 2017 and to make a final decision by the end of 2017.
156. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding the reimbursement of Irish Water customers who are solely connected to a sewerage system and do not utilise mains water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14298/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomestic water charges are currently suspended. Under the 'confidence and supply' arrangement between the Government and Fianna Fáil agreed in the context of supporting a minority government, the Oireachtas has established a Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. It is tasked with examining the recommendations of the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services and endeavouring to make its own recommendations. The Oireachtas will vote on the Joint Oireachtas Committee's recommendations within one month of the committee's report. The committee is due to finalise its report by mid-April.
Among the issues the Joint Oireachtas Committee is considering are domestic water charges arrears and any possible refunds of charges paid to date. The 'confidence and supply' arrangement affirms that those who have paid their water bills to date will be treated no less favourably than those who have not. No decisions on these issues will be made until the current deliberative process is complete.
157. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider reviewing the legislation surrounding dog licensing with a view to exempting assistance and disability dogs from the licence fee in order to assist with the provision of such a support, as is the case with guide dogs that are exempt from licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14349/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Control of Dogs Act 1986, all dog owners are required to have a dog licence.
Regarding assistance dogs, and in particular dogs kept and wholly or mainly used for the purpose of guiding a blind person or a person whose eyesight is so defective that he/she is unable to find his/her way without guidance, the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 provide for licensing and muzzling exemptions in such cases. The Control of Dogs legislation does not extend to any other matters relating to assistance dogs.
I have no plans to amend the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2010 in respect of this matter.
158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the age profile of an area is not factored into SICAP provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14400/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) aims to tackle poverty, social exclusion and long-term unemployment through local engagement and partnership between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations, public sector agencies and other stakeholders.
The SICAP target groups are:
- Children and Families from Disadvantaged Areas
- Lone Parents
- New Communities (including Refugees/Asylum Seekers)
- People living in Disadvantaged Communities
- People with Disabilities
- Roma
- The Unemployed (including those not on the Live Register)
- Travellers
- Young Unemployed People from Disadvantaged areas (including young people aged 15-24 who are not in employment, education or training)
- Low income workers and families.
SICAP allocations are informed by a number of factors including the general exchequer allocation to the Programme and the application of the Resource Allocation Model (RAM) for each area.
The Resource Allocation Model (RAM) allows the population and deprivation levels of all Local Community Development Committee areas to be examined in a consistent manner across the country. This model is based on the Pobal HP Deprivation Index which defines the relative disadvantage of a particular geographic area using data compiled from the 2011 Census. There are approximately 18,400 small areas across the country, which consist of 100 households, and each area is given a relative index score to indicate its level of affluence or deprivation. The index provides a score which allows the direct comparison of all census areas, down to the smallest CSO component. Three sets of data are used to calculate the relative index score – demographic profile, which includes indicators such as the percentage of the population aged under 15 or over 64 years of age, as well as social class composition and labour market situation. However, in general, SICAP is focussed on providing supports to people of working age, to assist them to get a foothold in the labour market.
159. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of improvement and prohibition notices served by each local authority over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14404/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMinimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
Following enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, local authorities have a strengthened legislative framework available to them which provides for the issuing of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices where landlords are in breach of their obligations. Fines for non-compliance with the regulations were also increased; the maximum fine increased from €3,000 to €5,000 and the fine for each day of a continuing offence increased from €250 to €400.
Information in relation to where notices were served on landlords for improvements to be carried out, as well as legal actions initiated, can be found on my Department's website at: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/private-housing-market-statistics.
My Department does not collate information regarding prohibition notices.
160. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is considering reconfiguring the Money Advice and Budgeting Service; if so, the details of these changes, including the number and location of branches for which closure is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14313/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has statutory responsibility for the Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS) and the Citizens Information Services (CIS), decided, on 15 February 2017, to restructure the governance arrangements of these services. The Citizens Information Board (CIB) assures me that there will be no job losses, no closure of services, no change to service delivery locations and no change to the terms and conditions of serving staff during the lifetime of the restructuring programme. Most importantly, there will be no disruption to CIS and MABS services for those who use them. The decision was communicated by the Board to all CIS and MABS Boards and to all staff on the same day.
The decision comes after a lengthy and extensive analysis of options and a detailed consultation period with all stakeholders on the need for a more streamlined governance model. It is worth clarifying that the new governance arrangements are not aimed at centralising the services provided by CIS and MABS. The restructured governance arrangements are being implemented at local company board level only. The decision taken will simply reduce the number of individual local CIS and MABS company boards from ninety three (93) to sixteen (16). A new regional board structure will be put in place which will comprise eight (8) CIS boards and eight (8) MABS boards.
The valuable work carried out by the employees and volunteers working in CIS services and the employees of MABS services will continue as heretofore. A more streamlined governance structure will result in a more targeted use of valuable staff resources, re-directed to increased front line service delivery, made possible by reduction in the current significant administrative burden associated with maintaining ninety three (93) individual companies nationwide.
The changes will bring the CIS and MABS organisations more into line with modern public service governance guidelines and requirements where significant State funding is involved. In 2017, CIB is set to receive State funding of €54 million, of which €15 million is allocated to CIS services (including €13.1 million to the 42 local Citizens Information Services, €1.2 million to Citizens Information Phone services and, the balance, €0.7 million to central and other supports), and €24.6 million is allocated to the network of MABS services (including €15.4 million to the 51 local MABS, €0.3m to National Traveller MABS, €2.0 million to MABS National Development Company, €3.3 million to the MABS Dedicated Mortgage Arrears initiative, €3.5 million to the Abhaile service, and the remaining €0.1m to MABS central supports).
Following on from the decision of the Board, a Restructuring Implementation Group is being set up by CIB to examine all aspects of implementing the new sixteen (16) board model. This work will include examination of the establishment costs of the new structure and the potential for future savings derived from the reduction in the administrative burden associated with ninety three (93) individual local companies. Current costs are an aggregate of the costs incurred by each of the ninety three (93) local companies on items such as audit fees, professional fees (including legal services), payroll administration and board of director expenses. While cost is not the driver of the restructuring project, some efficiencies are likely to result from moving to a reduced sixteen (16) company model. The main aim of the project is to improve existing governance arrangements and optimise the benefits from operating a more modern, streamlined and customer focused service delivery model.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
161. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason it has taken 14 weeks for the carer's allowance file of a person (details supplied) to be sent from the carer's allowance section in Sligo to the social welfare appeals office in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14377/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer's allowance from the person concerned on 8 June 2016.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention.
The person concerned was refused carer's allowance on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care and attention. This is because the care recipient was in care facility for four nights per week. The person concerned was notified on 10 November 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). A submission is being prepared as required by the SWAO and the case will be sent to the SWAO for determination this week.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
162. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to restore the telephone allowance as part of the household benefits package. [14396/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe savings arising from the initial reduction and subsequent discontinuance of the telephone allowance meant that my Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. My Department will spend approximately €232 million this year on these elements of the household benefits package for over 425,000 customers. The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen significantly each year, as the number of eligible customers grew. At the end of September 2013 there were almost 396,000 receiving the telephone allowance compared to approximately 316,000 people in 2007. This was an increase of 25%, or an average increase of approx. 4% per annum.
The Government is keenly aware of the impact of Budget decisions on the Department's clients, and strives to ensure that the money available is targeted in the most effective way. In Budget 2016, the first increase in the basic rate of the State pension in seven years was given. This increased the personal rate of the non-contributory pension to €222, and that of the contributory pension to €233.30. There was also a €2.50 increase in the rate of the Fuel Allowance, from €20 to €22.50 per week.
In Budget 2017, I announced a further increase in the rate of State pensions by €5, bringing the maximum personal rate of the State pension (contributory) to €238.30.
Therefore, over the past two Budgets, the maximum weekly rate for State Pensions has increased by €8 per week, which is the equivalent of over €34 per month. The value of these increases is significantly in excess of the value of the telephone allowance previously provided.
Any decision to restore the household benefits in full would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations. To date, the Government has concentrated additional resources on increasing the rate of the pension, rather than on the Household Benefits package.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
