Mick Barry
Ceist:233. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the provisions in the promised Bill to tackle insecure low-hour contracts and bogus self-employment. [2132/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWritten Answers Nos. 233-238
233. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the provisions in the promised Bill to tackle insecure low-hour contracts and bogus self-employment. [2132/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 7 December last year, I published the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 in response to the commitment in the current Programme for Government to tackle problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work.
The proposed legislation aims to improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours. The Bill has a particular focus on low-paid, more vulnerable workers. It provides for five key issues:
- Ensuring that employees are better informed about the nature of their employment arrangements and, in particular, their core terms at an early stage of their employment.
- Strengthening the provisions around minimum payments to low-paid, vulnerable workers who may be called in to work for a period but not provided with that work.
- Prohibiting zero hours contracts in most circumstances.
- Ensuring that employees on low hour contracts, who consistently work more hours each week than provided for in their contracts of employment, are entitled to be placed in a band of hours that better reflects the reality of the hours they have worked over an extended period.
- Strengthening the anti-victimisation provisions for employees who try to invoke a right under the Bill.
I look forward to working with all sides of both Houses of the Oireachtas so that this important Bill may be progressed as expeditiously as possible over the coming months.
Separately to this Bill, a working group from my Department, the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners have compiled a report on the use of ‘disguised–employment’ such as intermediary employment structures and certain self-employment arrangements. My Department is concerned that such mechanisms are being used to reduce the amount of PRSI and tax being paid with a subsequent loss to the Exchequer and the Social Insurance Fund. The Minister for Finance and I are considering the report with a view to its publication in the near future.
234. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding the damage to upland landscapes by the construction of onshore industrial wind turbines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2188/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlanning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to take account of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines for Planning Authorities, which were issued as statutory guidance by the Minister under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, when considering planning applications or appeals in respect of proposed wind energy developments. Chapters 3 and 6 of the Guidelines provide planning guidance for planning authorities on the assessment of the impact of wind energy projects on the landscape, when making a development plan and as part of development management.
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) must also be undertaken before a decision is made on a planning application or appeal in respect of a wind energy development comprising more than 5 turbines or having a power output greater than 5 megawatts. Appropriate assessment of the likely adverse effects of the proposed development on designated sites of particular environmental importance may also be required.
These processes and requirements are aimed at ensuring that all potential environmental impacts, including landscape impacts, of a proposed development are fully considered and taken into account prior to a decision being made on an individual planning application or appeal. In addition, a decision to grant permission for development may include conditions to mitigate environmental impacts of the construction process and the environmental effects of the development as identified under EIA. Furthermore, planning authorities have extensive powers under Part VIII of the 2000 Act to ensure that development is carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of the planning permission concerned.
Separate from the planning process, it is understood that the forthcoming Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework currently being progressed by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment will identify a limited number of areas suitable for the development of wind energy projects of scale, having regard to the protection of natural and cultural heritage, landscape and amenity.
235. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to review the criteria in respect of the local authority housing loan scheme in order to take into account the difficulties facing many persons (details supplied). [2144/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authority house purchase loan finance continues to be made available to first time buyers only. The Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 are kept under on-going review and there are no plans, at this time, to alter the scope of the Regulations to include non-first time buyers.
The option currently available for non-first time buyers is to seek home loan facilities from one of the commercial lending institutions.
236. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of sites that have been entered in every city and council vacant sites register from 1 January 2017 to 1 January 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2184/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017, and to issue notices to owners of vacant sites by 1 June 2018 in respect of vacant sites on the register on 1 January 2018. The levy will be applied by planning authorities, commencing on 1 January 2019 in respect of sites which were vacant and on the vacant site register during the year 2018 and will subsequently be applied on an annual basis thereafter, as long as a site remains on the vacant site register in the preceding year.
Planning authorities are presently engaging in the necessary preparatory work, prior to the application of the levy with effect from January 2019 in respect of sites identified on the register in 2018. As required under the Act, this includes the identification of specific vacant sites for entry on the register as well as the registered owners of the sites in question along with undertaking a site valuation.
My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites as each local authority administers the vacant site register in respect of their functional area. On foot of a recent review of the online vacant site registers across all local authority areas, I understand that there is collectively over 180 sites on the registers.
My Department continues to monitor and engage with local authorities in relation to the implementation of the vacant site levy and as recently as 8 November 2017 held a seminar with authorities in this regard.
237. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will request local authorities to make documentation in respect of planning applications available online in a timely fashion; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council considers this a courtesy service thus resulting in documents being made available late; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2214/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder current planning legislation, namely the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the 2000 Act) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2017, the processing of planning applications is based primarily on physical documents. While planning authorities endeavour to upload on-line as soon as possible the principal planning documents that are required to be made available in hard copy for public inspection and purchase, there is no statutory requirement for them to do so.
Amendments to the 2000 Act to facilitate the introduction of eplanning (electronic planning) across the local authority sector and in An Bord Pleanála have been incorporated in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, which is progressing through the Oireachtas (currently at Dáil Report Stage). When enacted and supplemented by necessary supporting regulations, this will allow the making available on-line of planning applications and appeals and submissions in relation to them, and also the on-line payment of associated fees. In this context, the aim will be to ensure that planning documents are made available on-line at the same time as they are made available for viewing in hard copy by members of the public.
238. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if local authorities have received, or are in the process of receiving, debt write offs on loans they acquired under the land aggregation scheme; the local authorities which have received debt write offs on such loans, in tabular form; and the process for the application of debt write offs under the scheme. [2219/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Land Aggregation Scheme was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for housing purposes. The primary purpose of the Scheme was to assist in the gradual unwinding of loans taken out by housing authorities to purchase land for the social and affordable housing investment programme.
Local authorities were invited to apply to my Department to recoup the cost of outstanding loans on housing land, where these loans were due to mature and where it was considered unlikely that land would be developed in the short to medium term. The application process required a formal submission by the local authority, including confirmation of having complied with the requirements under Section 103 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, in respect of notifying members of intention to dispose of land.
An initial appraisal of the land, to determine its suitability for inclusion in the scheme, was carried out by the Housing Agency, as well as a due diligence assessment. Subject to available funding, my Department discharged the loans and the sites transferred to the ownership of the Housing Agency.
Applications to the value of some €163 million in loans were accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme. The figure of €163 million includes €111 million in respect of loans which were fully redeemed by local authorities with funding recouped from my Department, under the original terms of the Scheme.
The remaining €52 million accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme is in the form of annuity loans, for which local authorities are making repayments to the Housing Finance Agency. Such annuity repayments are recoupable from my Department, subject to the local authority complying with terms of the Scheme.
Local authorities were advised of the discontinuance of the Scheme, in respect of new applications, in 2013.
The land involved continues to be available for housing and was included on the Rebuilding Ireland land mapping exercise.
Details of the sites accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme are set out in the following tables.
Table 1: Sites accepted under the first phase of the Scheme (Loan capital & interest fully redeemed).
Previous Owner |
Location |
Value of Loan accepted into the scheme (Capital & Interest) |
Size of Site |
|
|
[€] |
[ha] |
Carlow County Council |
Tinryland |
499,835 |
1.9 |
Carlow County Council |
Slate Row, Hacketstown |
611,677 |
3.2 |
Clare County Council |
Lisdoonvarna |
2,189,982 |
4.4 |
Cork County Council |
Meelin |
115,032 |
1.6 |
Cork County Council |
Oakwood, Macroom |
1,126,472 |
2.3 |
Cork County Council |
Colleras, Goleen |
348,337 |
0.5 |
Cork County Council |
Knocknagree |
241,595 |
1.3 |
Cork County Council |
Lombardstown |
152,184 |
1.3 |
Cork County Council |
The Slip, Bantry, |
2,788,750 |
13.5 |
Cork County Council |
Carrigtwohill |
1,474,014 |
2 |
Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council |
Enniskerry Road, Sandyford |
10,257,875 |
2.8 |
Fingal County Council |
Hampton, Balbriggan |
26,479,174 |
24.2 |
Galway City Council |
Ballymoneen Road, Ballyburke |
7,006,412 |
2.5 |
Kildare County Council |
Kildare, Brallistown |
1,929,294 |
4.0 |
Kildare County Council |
Nurney |
829,896 |
4.2 |
Kildare County Council |
Clane |
3,595,901 |
8.5 |
Kildare County Council |
Naas, Craddockstown |
4,750,580 |
7.9 |
Laois County Council |
Castletown |
111,392 |
1.5 |
Laois County Council |
Portlaoise Road, Mountrath |
849,818 |
3.1 |
Laois County Council |
Golflinks Road Rathdowney |
342,669 |
2 |
Laois County Council |
Adj. to Cemetery Ballinakill |
178,188 |
1.3 |
Laois County Council |
Woodbrook, Mountrath |
370,383 |
1.7 |
Limerick County Council |
Glin |
124,123 |
0.5 |
Limerick County Council |
Ballyhahill |
54,466 |
1.2 |
Limerick County Council |
Mountcollins |
135,694 |
1.5 |
Limerick County Council |
Knocklong |
434,019 |
3.5 |
Limerick County Council |
Bruff |
229,899 |
2.1 |
Mallow Town Council |
St Joseph's Road, Mallow |
3,877,077 |
5.3 |
Meath County Council |
Townparks Kells |
2,516,242 |
4.4 |
Naas Town Council |
Naas Devoy Barracks |
11,522,100 |
5.6 |
National Building Agency |
Cartontroy-Kilnafaddoge & Lissywollen, Athlone |
4,167,544 |
5.5 |
National Building Agency |
Tullow Road, Carlow |
3,327,875 |
2 |
Offaly County Council |
Shinrone |
371,847 |
2.9 |
Sligo County Council |
Ballintogher |
274,344 |
1.3 |
Sligo County Council |
Tubbercurry |
34,062 |
0.2 |
Sligo County Council |
Lisnalurg |
4,828,276 |
11.8 |
Tralee Town Council |
Ballyard, Tralee |
5,585,790 |
8.3 |
Waterford County Council |
Townpark East, Tallow |
871,053 |
4.3 |
Waterford City Council |
Gibbet Hill |
1,620,215 |
2.9 |
Wexford County Council |
Creagh B Demesne, Gorey |
270,933 |
0.7 |
Wexford County Council |
Ballyowen, Ramsfort Park Gorey |
701,448 |
1 |
Wexford County Council |
Hospital Hill, Bunclody |
1,252,881 |
4.4 |
Wexford County Council |
Parish Field, Bunclody |
283,233 |
0.7 |
Wexford County Council |
Taghmon, Wexford |
829,214 |
3.4 |
Wexford County Council |
Carrick on Bannow |
111,339 |
0.5 |
Wicklow Town Council |
Hillview, Ballynerrin, Wicklow Town |
1,390,145 |
2.9 |
|
Total |
€ 111,063,279 |
172.6 ha |
Table 2: Sites accepted under the second phase of the Scheme (Annuity repayments recoupable from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government).
Local Authority |
Location |
Value of Loan accepted into the scheme (Capital & Interest) |
Size of Site |
|
|
[€] |
[ha] |
Carlow County Council |
Royal Oak Road, Bagenalstown |
50,484* |
0.11 |
Carlow County Council |
Paupish |
960,510 |
2.2 |
Cork County Council |
Dripsey |
708,517 |
1.295 |
Cork County Council |
Cloughmacsimon, Bandon |
3,006,467 |
3.63 |
Cork County Council |
Duntahane Rd, Fermoy |
3,535,156 |
3.98 |
Cork County Council |
The Miles. Clonakilty |
1,066,686 |
2.464 |
Cork County Council |
Stag Park, Mitchelstown |
3,781,435 |
8.59 |
Cork County Council |
Barrack Rd, Youghal |
1,136,077 |
1.16 |
Cork County Council |
Townsend St, Skibbereen |
253,467 |
0.13 |
Cork County Council |
Union Hall |
622,233 |
1.403 |
Dundalk Town Council |
Mount Avenue |
4,158,868 |
3.09 |
Fingal County Council |
Garristown |
1,554,333 |
2.77 |
Fingal County Council |
Hackettstown |
7,285,629 |
7.3 |
Laois County Council |
Abbeyleix Rd |
1,383,355 |
1.491 |
Laois County Council |
Derry Rd Durrow |
554,089 |
1.0281 |
Laois County Council |
Old Knockmay Rd Portlaoise |
2,067,744 |
1.031 |
Laois County Council |
Bride St Ballinakill |
340,360 |
0.92 |
Laois County Council |
Doonane |
123,158 |
0.7405 |
Laois County Council |
Golflinks Rd (2) |
1,243,534 |
2.132 |
Limerick County Council |
Cappamore |
99,397 |
1.25 |
Offaly County Council |
Kilcormac |
622,331 |
1.2165 |
Sligo Borough Council |
Ballindoe |
8,830,267 |
15.1753 |
Tullamore Town Council |
Collins Lane |
4,836,978 |
4.34 |
Wexford County Council |
Campile Ballykerogue |
236,635 |
0.76 |
Wexford County Council |
Castlemoyle A&B New Ross |
3,744,513 |
5.96 |
|
Total |
€ 52,202,222 |
74.1664 ha |
*Royal Oak Road, Bagenalstown was accepted under the second phase of the scheme. However given the loan amount involved, €50,484, it was decided that it would be more efficient and effective to redeem the loan in full. Accordingly no interest payment arises in relation to that site.