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Tuesday, 17 Apr 2018

Written Answers Nos. 1496-1516

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (1496, 1620)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

1496. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on constructing residential units on State owned land in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the model used to construct residential units on State owned land; if a form of public private partnership is used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16622/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

1620. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of residential units that have been constructed on State owned lands in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of residential units in the planning process to be built on State owned land; the number of residential units with An Bord Pleanála to be built on State owned land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16625/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1496 and 1620 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, residential construction on state lands over the period 2012-2017 has been primarily for social housing purposes.

Through the supports made available from my Department, funding is available to all local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects, through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments and through working with approved housing bodies under a range of delivery options.

Details on the number of properties purchased and built in each local authority area, for letting to those on the social housing waiting lists, are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/node/6338.

Information on quarter four of 2017 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly. It should be noted that the total build output may also include a small number of turnkey developments not built on State lands but funded through the same capital programme. In addition to direct build projects, local authorities are also delivering additional social housing units, in partnership with approved housing bodies, on local authority land.

In relation to the amount spent on constructing residential units on State owned land in each of the years 2012 to 2017, the following table sets out the expenditure on local authority social housing build over the period 2012 to date. This does not include Part V, Turnkey or approved housing body schemes.

Year

Total €m

2018 (to 13/4/18)

41.94

2017

109.47

2016

35.46

2015

29.73

2014

24.46

2013

28.49

2012

44.51

In relation to the number of residential units in the planning process to be built on State owned land, at end February 2018, approximately 3,000 social housing units were advancing through the Part 8 planning process. The Department is not aware of any developments for residential units to be built on other publicly owned land which are currently with An Bord Pleanála.

The delivery of additional social and affordable homes, to buy or rent, will rely on the State developing the full potential of its residential land bank. Following the second Housing Summit in January 2018, local authorities were asked to submit their plans to develop their land bank for social and wider housing development, including an outline of their respective proposed affordable housing programmes and to indicate their social housing delivery out to 2021. My Department is currently working through these returns and I will be announcing delivery targets for all local authorities very shortly.

From a longer-term strategic perspective, as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government announced on 16 February its intention to establish a new National Regeneration and Development Agency, which will have a role in managing the State's wider publicly-owned land bank to ensure that overall development needs, including housing, are met. The new Agency will work closely with local authorities, Government Departments, Agencies and other State and semi-State bodies to secure the best use of public lands and ensure the delivery on the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.

Regarding the social housing Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme, which the Deputy refers to, this provides for an investment of €300 million and is expected to deliver 1,500 social housing units in total, via three bundles. The first bundle, comprises six PPP sites delivering over 500 units in the greater Dublin area. Two of the sites are located in Dublin City, with one each in South Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Louth. Dublin City Council has been appointed to act as the lead local authority for the delivery of this first bundle. The second bundle, comprising eight PPP sites, will deliver over 450 units across the country. Three of the sites are located in County Cork, with one each in the cities of Galway and Waterford. There is a further one site in each of counties Clare, Kildare and Roscommon. Cork County Council is the lead local authority for this bundle. Sites for the third bundle are currently being identified and will be announced in the coming months.

The PPP programme complements the increased exchequer-funded capital expenditure, which is part of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan. It allows for more social housing to be built in the context of available State resources. The sites being used will remain in local authority ownership and are being provided under licence for the duration of the 25-year PPP contract. The PPP programme is based on what is termed an ‘availability-based’ PPP model, in which a private sector company designs, builds, finances and maintains the social housing units over a 25 year period in return for a monthly ‘unitary payment’. The housing units will be handed back to the local authority after 25 years in a predefined, good quality condition. The sites will remain in State ownership for the entire period.

It should be noted that the Office of Public Works (OPW) has the central role in managing the State’s diverse property portfolio, and is responsible for co-ordinating policy in maintaining and efficiently organising the property asset portfolio of the State.

Postal Voting

Ceisteanna (1497, 1525, 1537, 1552, 1569)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

1497. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend postal voting rights to persons who are due to be abroad on holidays on 25 May 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16950/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1525. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the postal vote system for persons who are out of the country further than the persons currently provided for, such as consular staff and families, Defence Forces and so on, on polling days for referendums and elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15321/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

1537. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to make the supplement to the postal voters list available to those voters who on polling day have elective medical procedures, are in the final stages of pregnancy or are in the early stages after a pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15453/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

1552. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on extending the entitlement to a postal vote to those who are on holidays on polling day, abroad on pilgrimage, overseas on education courses or abroad working on a part-time basis; his further views on this in the context of the forthcoming referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15592/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John McGuinness

Ceist:

1569. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a postal vote will be given to a person who has already made travel arrangements and will not be in the country on the date of the referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15900/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1497, 1525, 1537, 1552 and 1569 together.

Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of a number of categories of electors - whole-time members of the Defence Forces, members of An Garda Síochána, Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical disability, electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day, full-time students registered at their home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State, prisoners and certain election staff employed at the poll outside the constituency where they reside. Potential voters falling into these categories who are not already postal voters have until 28 April 2018 to apply to their registration authorities for inclusion in the supplement to the postal voters list to avail of a postal vote in the forthcoming referendum.

While electoral law is subject to ongoing review I have no proposals at present to extend existing arrangements for postal voting.  However, in response to the evolving needs of Irish society and its relationship with the wider Irish diaspora, the Government agreed in March 2017 to accept in principle the main recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution that Irish citizens resident outside the State, including citizens resident in Northern Ireland, should have the right to vote at presidential elections and that a referendum would be held to amend the Constitution to seek to give effect to this.  In order to inform public discourse on this significant policy change, an Options Paper was published on 22 March 2017 by my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Options Paper, which is available on my Department's website at www.housing.gov.ie, sets out a broad range of options for the extension of voting rights, international comparisons, the estimated costs involved and related resource issues as well as many of the legal, policy and logistical challenges associated with extending voting rights to Irish citizens resident outside the State.  As set out in the Options Paper, postal voting would be the most likely means by which Irish citizens resident outside the State could exercise their right to vote if a referendum were to be held and passed by the people in due course.   

To address a number of Government commitments on the holding of referendums, the Government announced on 26 September 2017 that it had agreed indicative dates for the holding of a number of referendums in 2018 and 2019, subject to the timely passage of Constitution Amendment Bills by each House of the Oireachtas.  Included in the list is the proposed referendum on extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State which it is intended will be held on the same date as the local and European elections in late May/early June 2019.  My Department will, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, bring forward an appropriate Constitution Amendment Bill on extending the franchise at Presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State in good time for the holding of the referendum.

Planning Issues

Ceisteanna (1498, 1499, 1500, 1501, 1502)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

1498. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the statutory authority under which he issued ​circular letter PL 02/20189 (details supplied). [14948/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

1499. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he obtained legal advice before issuing circular letter PL 02/20189. [14949/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

1500. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he or his officials had discussions with an association (details supplied) before he issued circular letter PL 02/20189. [14950/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

1501. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he or his officials had discussions with the law agents of planning authorities before he issued circular letter PL 02/20189. [14951/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

1502. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which it came to his attention that individual planning applications made under Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are increasingly being discussed at municipal district area committee and-or council meetings of some local authorities prior to a decision being made on the application concerned, as referred to in circular letter PL 02/20189. [14952/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1498 to 1502, inclusive, together.

Following engagement with the Land Use and Transport Committee of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) in relation to the discussion of individual planning applications at Municipal District and Area Committee meetings or at full Council meetings in some local authorities, my Department issued Circular PL 02/2018 to planning authorities on 9 March 2018.

The purpose of this Circular was to remind planning authorities and elected members that they are required to consider planning applications in accordance with the open, transparent and verifiable written process set down in planning legislation and that planning authorities, when making their decisions, are restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned.

The Circular further indicates that, while the statutory Development Management Guidelines issued to planning authorities under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, recognise that elected members may be informed by planning staff of factual matters relating to particular planning applications, the provision of such information is intended to inform elected members who may wish to make substantive comments on planning applications by way of formal written submissions or observations to the planning authority.

In this regard, the Circular points out that discussion of the merits of individual planning applications at Municipal District and Area Committee meetings or full Council meetings does not form part of the statutory process for the consideration of planning applications, and that the practice could be viewed as an attempt to undermine due process and exert undue influence on the planning authority to make a decision that would not be in the interests of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned. The Circular also states that the practice of discussing planning applications at relevant Council meetings could convey an erroneous impression to the public of the role of elected members in the statutory process for deciding on planning applications.

As the Circular restates and does not amend the relevant provisions of the Development Management Guidelines issued to planning authorities, it was not necessary to seek legal advice or to formulate further statutory guidance in the matter.  The Circular was issued to planning authorities as part of the normal process of communication by my Department with planning authorities in relation to issues of common concern and with a view to ensuring that common approaches and practices are adopted by planning authorities in the performance of their statutory planning functions generally.

Local Government Audit Service

Ceisteanna (1503, 1504)

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

1503. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the town and borough councils that had an auditor's report prepared and issued by the Local Government Audit Service for 2013, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14954/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

1504. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the town and borough councils that did not have an auditor's report prepared and issued by the Local Government Audit Service for 2013, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14955/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1503 and 1504 together.

Government policy on local government reform was set out in the Putting People First, Action Programme for Effective Local Government (the ‘Action Programme’).

Many of the reforms set out in the Action Programme were introduced with effect from 1 June 2014. These included the merging of the city and county councils of Waterford and Limerick and the two county councils in Tipperary, the dissolution of town and borough councils, the introduction of 95 municipal districts and a new regional assembly structure.

These factors contributed to a delay in the production of 2013 draft accounts by some authorities, which had an adverse impact in the delivery of a timely and efficient audit programme.

Section 120 of the Local Government Act 2001 states that "on completion of the audit of accounts of a local authority or other body, the local government auditor....may prepare a report (in this Chapter referred to as an ‘‘auditor’s report’’) on any matter or matters which come to his or her notice during the course of the audit and such report shall accompany the audited financial statement."

Due to the fact that Town and Borough Councils were dissolved with effect from 1 June 2014 and that the majority of audits would not be completed by that date, it was decided that it was not necessary to issue an audit report on completion of the audits of Town and Borough Councils unless significant audit issues arose. However any issues arising were to be followed up with the relevant local authority staff. I can confirm that all audits of Town and Borough Councils were completed for 2013 and, with the exception of Sligo Borough and Ballinasloe Town Councils, that audit reports to the members were not issued.   Any significant or on-going issues in relation to former town councils would have been identified as part of the annual audit of the County Council in 2014 and if necessary reflected in the statutory audit report for that Council.

Building Regulations Amendments

Ceisteanna (1505)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

1505. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to change section J3 of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014; if so, when the change will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14960/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997 to 2017, which are made under the Building Control Act 1990, as amended, set out the minimum legal requirements applicable to the construction of all new buildings, extensions to existing buildings, as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. These requirements are set out in 12 parts, classified as Parts A to M. The accompanying Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) provide guidance on how owners, builders, developers and designers can achieve compliance in practice.

Part J of these regulations deals with heat producing appliances and was amended in 2014. The Building Regulations (Part J Amendment) Regulations 2014 and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document J – Heat Producing Appliances (2014), includes the requirement, J3, that a heat producing appliance and any flue pipe shall be so designed and installed and any fireplace and any chimney shall be so designed and constructed, in a manner that will reduce to a reasonable level the risk of the building catching fire in consequence of its use.

There are no further plans to amend Part J at this time.

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (1506)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

1506. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether it is a conflict of interest that a person (details supplied) is also a board member of an organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15022/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is governed by the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 – 2016.  Section 153 of the Act provides that the members of the Board shall be appointed from time to time as occasion requires by the Minister.  The Act requires that Board members shall be persons who, in the Minister’s opinion, have experience in a field of expertise relevant to the Board’s functions.

In accordance with the Government Decision regarding appointments to vacancies on State Boards, with effect from 1 November 2014, such vacancies must be advertised openly on the State Boards portal, www.stateboards.ie, operated by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

The Government believes that putting in place a system for appointments to State Boards that is open, accessible, rigorous and transparent, will yield additional applications from accomplished, experienced and qualified individuals who wish to make a commitment to public service that might not have previously been identified as available for appointment to State Boards.  One of the core elements of the model agreed by Government is the operation by PAS of an independent, expert, rigorous and transparent system of assessment.

On appointment, RTB Board members are required to sign and adhere to the code of practice for Board members as detailed on the RTB website at the following link:

https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/images/uploads/general/Code_of_Conduct_for_Board_Members_2017.pdf .

As outlined in the Code, the activities of the Board must be conducted in an objective manner. Board members must also comply with the requirements of section 170 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004 in relation to disclosure of interests and must disclose outside business or employment interests in conflict or in potential conflict with the business of the RTB.  A conflict of interest may arise where a board member’s relationships, interests (including business, professional and/or employment interests) or attitude influences or might be perceived as influencing his/her decision in relation to a matter or being in conflict with the objectives and activities of the Board. Conflicts may arise generally in relation to the Board’s activities or in relation to particular matters that are subject to Board decisions.

Board members must submit all declarations of interests statements required under the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts. Where a Board member has an actual or perceived conflict in relation to a matter to be considered by the Board or by the Director and officers of the RTB, then it is expected that:

- The interest and its nature be disclosed in advance;

- He/she does not influence or seek to influence a decision to be made in relation to the matter;

- He/she absents him/herself from any meeting or part of a meeting at which the conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest is discussed;

- He/she does not vote on any matter in which they have a conflict of interest;

- The disclosure of the interest will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which it is considered

I am satisfied the RTB is committed to maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance, in compliance with the Codes of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

Fire Safety

Ceisteanna (1507, 1508, 1510, 1514)

John Lahart

Ceist:

1507. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the hospitals in the Dublin region that were assessed for compliance under the early risk categorisation procedure undertaken by his Department post the Grenfell fire. [15054/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Lahart

Ceist:

1508. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government if a building (details supplied) had been included in the early risk category undertaken on high-rise buildings post the Grenfell fire. [15055/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Lahart

Ceist:

1510. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of the early risk categorisation report carried out by each fire authority and sent to his Department for observation some years ago; the outcome of the process; and if it is under review. [15057/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Lahart

Ceist:

1514. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the way in which the investigation of early risk categories in relation to early risk categorisation was undertaken in a Dublin context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15106/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1507, 1508, 1510 and 1514 together.

I presume the phrase “early risk categorisation” refers to the “area risk categorisation” process provided for in the national policy document “Keeping Communities Safe - A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland” (KCS).

The provision of a fire service in its functional area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Dublin City Council provides fire services on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.

My Department supports the fire authorities through setting national policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructure projects.

National policy in relation to fire safety is set out in KCS, which is based on the internationally-used systemic risk management approach and places emphasis on fire prevention and fire protection facilities in buildings, as well as on fire service response. For the first time, this document set out a national process and standards against which local authorities can benchmark their fire services.

This policy document provides for each fire service to undertake an Area Risk Categorisation process in respect of each of its fire station areas. In 2013/14, following the publication of “Keeping Communities Safe”, and before the Grenfell Tower fire occurred in June 2017, each fire authority undertook an initial area risk categorisation process for its functional area and reported on the process.  The outcome of this process is a judgement by fire service management to establish a risk grading across very high risk, high risk, medium risk, low risk or very low risk categories. The initial fire station risk ratings for Ireland’s 217 fire stations are published in the 2016 report “Local Delivery – National Consistency – Fire Services in Ireland”, a copy of which is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/fire-and-emergency-management/fire-services-ireland-local-delivery-national.

The approach to undertaking the initial Area Risk Categorisation Process is set out in KCS. The Area Risk Categorisation process uses nine specific criteria, including 3 years of actual fire data, census data relating to population of main urban areas, the total population of the station ground, the number of dwellings in the station ground and the annual dwelling fire rate. The initial process was based on analysis of three years of actual fire data generated from the three Computer Aided Mobilisation (CAMP) Centres. This provided spatial analysis of fire service historical incident data in line with the international trend towards the use of a risk-based approach to managing emergency service provision.  

It is the predominant risk in an area that defines its risk categorisation. While buildings with significant hazards may be identified/highlighted as part of the process, it is not seen as necessary or appropriate to undertake a building by building appraisal for the purposes of the initial area risk categorisation process. An area risk categorisation process does not assess compliance of hospitals or other individual buildings with fire safety standards, as appears to be suggested in two of the Deputy's Questions.

However, significant buildings are readily known by the people working in each station ground and, based on a prioritisation by local fire station officers, fire services undertake “Pre-Incident Planning” in relation to what they perceive as the individual major fire risk buildings within their fire station areas. It is a matter for Dublin City Council to identify and prioritise buildings for "Pre-Incident Planning" in the Dublin area.

I am not in a position to say, and the Deputy should be advised by Dublin City Council, as to what buildings are prioritised and have been through the pre-incident planning process in the Dublin area.

Over the course of 2014/2015, the National Directorate Management Board's External Validation Group (EVG) visited every fire service in the country as part of a new external validation of area risk categorisation in Ireland.  In April 2016, the Board published the first EVG report titled “Local Delivery - National Consistency”. The report concluded, inter alia, that:

- Fire Services are applying and refining internationally-recognised risk management approaches to reduce the fire risk and the annual toll of life and property loss caused by fire.

- Local authorities are matching the assessed fire risk in their individual fire station areas with services based on both full-time and retained fire service models, with a comprehensive support infrastructure, and applying a range of appropriate fire prevention and fire protection approaches.

- Local authorities have prioritised and maintained the financial and personnel resources in their fire services at a time when they have implemented significant reductions in all other areas.

- Local authorities have benchmarked their fire services against national standards and national norms, and a strong degree of consistency, linked to area risk categorisation, now exists in fire service provision; all local authorities are using, or are working towards, national norms as minimum standards.

Arising from the work of the EVG, I am satisfied that the fire services provided in Ireland are operating to appropriate standards.

A consultation exercise with staffing interests was commenced in March 2016 through the Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group (FSNOIG) with a view to identifying potential enhancements to the initial Area Risk Categorisation and associated external validation process. The initial area risk categorisation reports of all 27 fire services, as well as the External Validation Group report referred to above, were provided to the staff side at that time. However, no progress has been made between management and the staff side in relation to identifying specific issues with the current process or potential enhancements.

The initial area risk categorisation process undertaken in Dublin was in line with national guidance and the fire station risk ratings for Dublin are included in the 2016 report “Local Delivery – National Consistency – Fire Services in Ireland” referred to above.

Fire Safety

Ceisteanna (1509)

John Lahart

Ceist:

1509. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the advice given to residents of high rise buildings in the event of fire breaking out - if it is to remain in the building or to evacuate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15056/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In accordance with section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, it is the responsibility of the ‘person having control’ over the premises to ensure the safety of persons in the premises in the event of fire. The fire safety strategy and associated procedures to ensure the safety of people in any high-rise building is usually, therefore, the responsibility of the relevant management company. The management of the building puts procedures in place, including procedures for evacuation of the building in the event of fire, based on implementing the design strategy for fire safety in that building. It is the responsibility of the person having control also to ensure that all building occupants are aware of and practiced in the arrangements in place and that fire detection and alarm systems are operating and maintained in accordance with relevant standards.

In most buildings and circumstances, the safest approach and the default option is for all occupants of the building to evacuate in the event of a fire or a fire alarm being activated. Special provisions are necessary for buildings, such as hospitals or nursing homes, where evacuation of patients or residents may not be feasible or advisable.

In the case of buildings containing flats, the current fire safety guidance provides for two-tier fire detection and alarm systems. Firstly, each flat should be provided with its own internal domestic detection and alarm system, which gives an initial warning only within the flat when fire or smoke is detected. The intention is that residents should evacuate, closing doors behind them, in the event of a fire or alarm in their own flat.  Secondly, for protection of the shared areas of the building, a fire detection and alarm system is provided to detect fire or smoke in the shared escape routes, or a developing fire in an individual flat which may begin to threaten the shared escape routes. Buildings containing flats are intended to have a degree of fire resistance, to prevent the fire spreading beyond the flat of origin. This second system will give warning to residents throughout the building. Generally, unless alternative procedures are specified, where residents receive warning of a fire in the building, they should evacuate the building.

In the case of very large or high rise buildings containing flats, there is provision for the fire detection and alarm system to initially warn the occupants in the areas of the building most likely to be affected by fire.  In this way, phased evacuation can be provided for. Following the initial warning, the fire detection and alarm system can give warning in areas more remote from the fire.

In all cases, residents of premises containing flats should be informed by the ‘person having control’ regarding the strategy and arrangements in place in their particular building.

Where fire services attend a fire in a building containing flats, the Incident Commander may decide to instruct an evacuation of the building, or, where it is considered that a fire is small, with localised effects, and can be readily brought under control, they may advise residents to stay in place while the fire is brought under control.

Question No. 1510 answered with Question No. 1507.

Vacant Properties Data

Ceisteanna (1511)

John Lahart

Ceist:

1511. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the accuracy of figures for vacant housing in view of the fact that the CSO refused to publish Garda figures for homicide on the grounds of debatable accuracy. [15058/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Central Statistics Office is the principal statutory compiler and publisher of official statistics in Ireland, and the 5-yearly Census is a detailed account which records and classifies, inter alia, all households and dwelling types throughout the country on a particular night. The vacancy figures recorded in the Census are the result of the application of consistent, transparent and well tested methodologies and definitions across the entire country by a dedicated field-force of over 5,000 staff members who receive detailed training and whose work is closely managed and subject to ongoing structured quality assurance.

I note that the results of Census 2016 show that vacancy levels in urban areas have decreased compared with the previous Census, while in rural areas vacancy remains high. The data provided by the Census is a valuable starting point for the work of my Department but as it includes short-term vacancy (e.g. property for sale or between tenancies on the night of the Census) and complex vacancy issues (e.g. probate), it is important to build on that data to derive the more targeted data that local authorities need in order to tackle vacancy effectively.

My Department is working with the CSO, the Housing Agency and the local government sector to identify the subset of the headline vacancy figures provided by the Census that are houses capable of being brought back into use quickly in areas of high housing need. The key focus is to enable local authorities to quickly identify any vacancy hotspots in their areas so existing empty housing stock can be re-used and provide much needed homes.

The expertise of the CSO, combined with the on-the-ground knowledge of local authorities, is important to inform our actions in this regard.

Fire Service

Ceisteanna (1512)

John Lahart

Ceist:

1512. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if Dublin Fire Brigade has the ability to deal with fires that break out in high rise developments in Dublin. [15067/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The provision of a fire service in its functional area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Dublin City Council provides fire services on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.

My Department supports the fire authorities through setting national policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructure projects.

National policy in relation to fire safety is set out in the 2013 document titled “Keeping Communities Safe – A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland”.  For the first time, this document set out a national process and standards against which local authorities can benchmark their fire services.

This policy document provides for each fire service to undertake an Area Risk Categorisation process in respect of each of its fire station areas. The outcome of this process is a judgement by fire service management to establish a risk grading across very high risk, high risk, medium risk, low risk or very low risk categories.

The initial fire station risk ratings for Dublin are published in the 2016 report “Local Delivery – National Consistency – Fire Services in Ireland”, and are set out in the following table.

FIRE   SERVICE

FIRE STATION

ARC RATING

DUBLIN

Tallaght

A1

DUBLIN

Tara Street

A1

DUBLIN

Dolphins Barn

A2

DUBLIN

Finglas

A2

DUBLIN

Kilbarrack

A2

DUBLIN

Phibsboro

A2

DUBLIN

Swords

A2

DUBLIN

Blanchardstown

B1

DUBLIN

Dunlaoghaire

B1

DUBLIN

North Strand

B1

DUBLIN

Rathfarnham

B1

DUBLIN

Donnybrook

B2

DUBLIN

Balbriggan

C1

DUBLIN

Skerries

D1

The Keeping Communities Safe policy document requires fire services to have an initial response capability in place which is linked to the assessed Area Risk Category, as set out in the following table.

Risk Category

Description

Risk Category

Standard Fire   Appliance (Class B) Response Capability

Fire Brigade Travel   Times

Associated Crew   Levels (incl. crew commanders)

Very High

A

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

in 8 mins

in 10 mins

in 15 mins

in 20 mins

5

9

13

17

High

B

1st

2nd

3rd

in 10 mins

in 15 mins

in 20 mins

5

9

13

Medium

C

1st

2nd

3rd

in 10 mins

in 20 mins

in 30 mins

5

9

13

Low

D

1st

2nd

in 20 mins

in 40 mins

5

9

Very Low

E

1

2

in 30 mins

in 60 mins

5

9

Arising from the work of the External Validation Group mandated by the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management which prepared the “Local Delivery – National Consistency” report referred to above, I am satisfied that the fire services provided in the Dublin area are meeting the above standards.

In relation to fighting fires in high rise buildings, my Department issued guidance titled “Fighting Fires in High-Rise Buildings” in April 2011. This was part of a suite of 47 Standard Operational Guidance documents developed by fire service personnel and issued by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.

The primary means of ensuring fire safety in high rise buildings derives from the passive and active fire safety features in the building which enable fires to be detected at an early stage and safe evacuation of occupants to take place, as well as containing fires within compartments.

While it is not possible to provide absolute guarantees in relation to fire safety in all buildings at all times, I believe that the current arrangements in place at both national and local level for fire safety and fire service response, including in Dublin, are appropriate and effective.

Fire Service

Ceisteanna (1513)

John Lahart

Ceist:

1513. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the instructions being given to Dublin Fire Brigade regarding the outbreak of fires in high rise buildings. [15104/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The provision of a fire service in its functional area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. Dublin City Council provides fire services on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.

My Department supports the fire authorities through setting national policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructure projects.

National policy in relation to fire safety is set out in the 2013 document titled “Keeping Communities Safe – A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland”.  For the first time, this document set out a national process and standards against which local authorities can benchmark their fire services.

An External Validation Group was mandated by the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management to visit all 27 fire services and review the state of local authority fire services. They prepared the 2016 Report “Local Delivery – National Consistency - Fire Services in Ireland” .  Arising from their work, I am satisfied that the fire services provided in the Dublin area are operating to  appropriate standards.

My Department does not issue instructions to local authority fire services but has developed a close collaborative working arrangement since the establishment of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in 2009.

In relation to fighting fires in high rise buildings, my Department issued guidance titled “Fighting Fires in High-Rise Buildings” in April 2011. This was part of a suite of 47 Standard Operational Guidance (SOG) documents developed between 2010 and 2012 by fire service personnel and issued by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management. A copy of the SOG concerned, SOG 3.02, is available on my Department's web-site at the following link:  http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/Community/FireandEmergencyServices/FileDownLoad%2C33367%2Cen.pdf. 

The National Directorate has engaged fire services staff working in local authorities to develop a further four SOGs addressing - SOG 3.16 Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS), version 1.0 (September, 2015); SOG 7.02 (A) Incidents involving acetylene (September, 2015); SOG 4.04 Aircraft incidents (August, 2015); SOG 5.14 Body retrieval and suicide attempts (September, 2015). These draft SOGs, in the same format as the previous 47, were submitted on 10 March 2016 to trade unions for consultation  as part of the new Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group (FSNOIG) process. However, no progress has been made with these documents through this process, despite the implications for health and safety of staff.

A National Incident Command System was also developed and promulgated by the National Directorate in 2009 with appropriate training and support materials. Operational response to a particular incident or category of incidents is a matter for each fire service, taking account of national policy and guidance. The Incident Commander is the person who will decide on the appropriate course of action to be taken in any given situation, taking into consideration the balance of needs, risk and resources with particular regard to the health, safety and welfare of the fire-fighters.

Question No. 1514 answered with Question No. 1507.

Fire Service

Ceisteanna (1515)

John Lahart

Ceist:

1515. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the age of the Dublin Fire Brigade fleet of vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15120/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003.

My Department supports the fire authorities through setting national policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding, including recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and emergency equipment, as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations. 

Dublin City Council provides fire services on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.  My Department has recently received an update report from Dublin City Council in relation to its fire appliance fleet and will be liaising with the Council in relation to determining priority projects for financial support in the years ahead. Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet is one of the key national priorities for the Fire Services Capital Programme.

A new national joint-procurement programme was announced in 2017 to purchase 20 new fire appliances, under which Dublin City Council's Fire Service received an allocation of three new ‘Class B’ appliances. In 2015 under a similar programme, Dublin's Fire Service was also allocated three ‘Class B’ appliances. They requested and received approval to substitute the cost of one of those appliances to purchase a pre-used turntable ladder. In addition to these, since 2008, my Department has also funded four ‘Class B’ appliances and one turntable ladder for Dublin.

Management of the number, type and age profile of fire appliances is a matter for each of the fire authorities. In the assessment of their fire cover needs, including the provision and management of a fleet adequate to their requirements, fire service management use evidence based on multi-annual data of actual fires in determining fire station area risk categorisations and have regard to standards set out in the national policy document “Keeping Communities Safe” for benchmarking their services. My Department also includes the area risk categorization process in determining priority projects for financial support.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Ceisteanna (1516)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1516. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of expenditure on consultancy by his Department in each of the years 2015 to 2017; the number of consultants engaged by his Department in those years; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy and the reliance on consultants by his Department in these years and for the future. [15192/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested on expenditure and the number of consultants engaged by my Department is set out in the following table. The information relates to the current configuration of my Department and does not include any expenditure in respect of functions that have transferred to other Departments, i.e. Rural Affairs, Social Enterprise, Climate Action, Environment and Community Development, which transferred out of my Department between 2016 and 2017.  

 

 2015

2016

2017

Consultancy Expenditure

€0.784m

€0.495m

€0.436m

No. of Consultants engaged

12

15

21

 

The names of the consultants are set out below as follows (1):

A&L Goodbody Solicitors

AECOM

Artefact Limited

ASM Chartered Accountants

Bid Management Services

Bruce McCormack

CAAS Ltd(2)

Capita Transformation(2)

Deloitte

Des Johnson

Dr. Dagmar Stengel

Eamon O'Boyle & Associates Limited

Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)

Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks

Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency(2)

PACEC(2)

Invas Biosecurity

Ipsos MRBI(2)

IT Executive Focus

KOSI Ltd

Limerick Institute of Technology(2)

Local Government Management Agency (LGMA)

MacCabe, Durney Barnes

Marine Institute

Martinplan Consulting

Mazars Consulting

Mr. Hendrik W van der Kamp

National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)

O'Brien Learning

Optimize

Rory Mulcahy, Senior Counsel

RPS Group

School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin(2)

Steering Group on Fire Safety Review

(1) Certain consultants were engaged in more than one year and on more than one contract.

(2) No expenditure incurred during 2015 to 2017.

My Department’s expenditure on consultancy has declined during the years in question and work will continue to ensure consultancy expenditure is kept to the minimum consistent with meeting key business needs.

In this regard, the Department’s consultancy budget is managed in accordance with Government policy and consultants are only engaged where specific expertise is required which is not  available in the organisation at the required time. The approach taken is to secure outside assistance when it is needed and to work to obtain organisational learning from the engagement so as to reduce costs in the future. The Department uses its training and development budget to up-skill staff with expertise necessary for the ongoing performance of the Department’s business.

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