Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Local Authority Funding

Pearse Doherty

141. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 13 March 2014, the reasons the local government management agency's review of local authority service indicators has been completed to 2011 only; when he expects to have the data for 2012 and 2013; the reasons for the delay in compiling the data; if he is satisfied he has access to sufficient data in order to ascertain the current level of vacant social housing units and formulate appropriate policy regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14611/14]

Local Authority Funding

Pearse Doherty

142. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 13 March 2014, if he will provide a breakdown per local authority of the funding allocated by his Department over the past five years specifically for the upgrade of vacant local authority housing stock to prepare same for re-letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14612/14]

Motor Tax Collection

Pearse Doherty

715. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was made to pay motor tax arrears for a vehicle which was off road as the owner did not have in their possession the log book to tax the vehicle, despite them contacting the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport requesting the said document on numerous occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13867/14]

Local Authority Funding

Pearse Doherty

147. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of the allocation made to Donegal County Council for reparations of the recent storm damage; if he will provide a list of the amount allocated in respect of each project and the works to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12738/14]

Local Authority Housing Data

Pearse Doherty

160. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown per county of the number of local authority houses that have not been let in more than three months; the number that are currently boarded up awaiting works; the number of persons on each local authority waiting list; the total amount allocated by his Department per local authority over the past five years specifically for the upgrading of existing local authority housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12685/14]

Local Development Companies Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reasons payment has not been processed in respect of a project (details supplied); if he will provide a clear commitment that all of the outstanding moneys will be paid as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12686/14]

Capital Assistance Scheme Applications

Pearse Doherty

347. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposed development for community housing for elderly persons on Arranmore Island, Burtonport, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11728/14]

Foreshore Licence Applications

Pearse Doherty

294. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the issuing of a foreshore license for Burtonport to Donegal County Council. [10954/14]

Building Regulations Compliance

Pearse Doherty

499. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria for inclusion on the register of approved builders for the purposes of the new building regulations; if the register has been compiled; if he will consider granting a derogation to those who have embarked upon the planning process before the introduction of the new regulations; if he will confirm that the new regulations make it impossible to self build unless one is on the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9622/14]

Building Regulations Application

Pearse Doherty

500. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has met representatives of Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists in relation to the impact of the new building regulations on the profession; if he has considered the onerous obligations it places on members of CIAT who wish to be included on the register; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the new regulations will have a considerable impact on those who practise here; if he will address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9623/14]

Building Regulations Compliance

Pearse Doherty

501. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received a submission or correspondence from the Architects Alliance of Ireland in respect of the new building regulations; his views on this correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9624/14]

Harbours and Piers Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

502. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the situation at Magheraroarty pier in County Donegal whereby dredging is required on an ongoing basis when sand accumulates at the pier; the amount spent dredging this pier to date; if he intends to make funding available to Donegal County Council to develop and implement a permanent solution to the problem; if his attention has been drawn to the impact of the problem on the local fishing and tourist industry as access to the offshore island of Tory is dependent on the pier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9625/14]

EU Funding

Pearse Doherty

138. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he will characterise the draw down rate for the LIFE + programme 2007-2013 by Ireland; if he will put this sum in context with reference to the draw down by other EU Member States. [8447/14]

Local Authority Funding

Pearse Doherty

535. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a table showing the amount each local authority has requested in emergency funding as a result of recent flooding; and the amount each local authority estimates the damage caused. [8368/14]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Pearse Doherty

364. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline in detail what the figure of €635 million in the public capital programme for water and sewerage services programme is comprised of. [6511/14]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Pearse Doherty

461. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions that will be taken by his Department to address the concerns of the Irish Road Hauliers Association in respect of the proposed road user levy on HGV vehicles entering the North and Britain; if his attention has been drawn to the effect this will have on exports and also particularly on haulage operators in Border counties; if he has considered proposals put forward by the Irish Road Haulage Association; if he will implement same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5224/14]

Motor Tax Collection

Pearse Doherty

501. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reasons persons (details supplied) in County Donegal have been refused a rebate of motor tax in respect of vehicles which they have sold outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3564/14]

Motor Tax Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

502. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person sells a car outside the State and that car is subsequently returned to the State by a third party outside of the control of the original seller, if the original seller then loses their entitlement to a rebate of motor tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3565/14]

Appointments to State Boards

Pearse Doherty

563. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of appointments to State boards under the remit of his Department, that were made as a result of applications made through the publicjobs.ie website in the past three years; the number of board posts that were advertised on publicjobs.ie; the number of board posts that were not advertised on the website but instead were directly appointed; and the average pay to directly appointed board members. [4592/14]

Motor Tax Collection

Pearse Doherty

165. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reasons it is not allowed to declare a vehicle off the road if arrears of motor tax are owed and a minimum of three months motor tax has not been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3433/14]

Building Regulations Compliance

Pearse Doherty

166. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered the financial burden placed on builders of one-off properties, such as those in rural areas building a family home, by the requirement under the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 to contract an assigned certifier; his plans to introduce measures to keep such costs to a minimum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3434/14]

Rural Development Programme Projects

Pearse Doherty

159. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has viewed the independent report completed by Achilles Consultants in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Donegal; his views on the recommendations made by the report; the reason his Department have not acted on the recommendations in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54641/13]

Leader Programmes Applications

Pearse Doherty

160. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 487 of 18 July 2013 and 269 of the 3 December 2013, if he will make public the findings of the Ombudsman in relation to the project in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54642/13]

Rural Development Programme Projects

Pearse Doherty

161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will meet with a cross-party delegation to discuss the issues in relation to funding of a project (details supplied) in County Donegal; if he accepts that failure to resolve the issues with this project have consequences for future Leader funding of similar projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54643/13]

Capital Programme Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

337. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department has spent €172 million less on the capital side than was profiled in the November Exchequer figures. [52832/13]

Environmental Impact Statements

Pearse Doherty

338. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has given any consideration to any potential means of alleviating the financial burden placed on those who are required to prepare EIS/ EIA in order to comply with planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52856/13]

Leader Programmes Applications

Pearse Doherty

269. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 487 of 18 July 2013, if the further investigations and legal advice as a result of the decision of the Ombudsman in respect of a project (details supplied) are now completed; the outcome of those investigations; if the Ombudsman made a recommendation that funding should be paid in respect of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51893/13]

Property Taxation Yield

Pearse Doherty

262. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 24 October 2013, the significant organisational and financial challenges facing local government that are referred to in his reply and the reason they were not foreseen. [47761/13]

Local Government Fund

Pearse Doherty

263. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the next round of allocations from the local government fund will be announced. [47762/13]

Local Government Fund

Pearse Doherty

264. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown for the past three years of allocations from the local government fund to each local authority. [47763/13]

Local Government Fund

Pearse Doherty

265. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage and amount of the local government fund that is derived from motor tax. [47764/13]

Waste Management Issues

Pearse Doherty

649. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale for the recent landfill levy increase in view of the fact that the levy has increased from €30 per tonne in 2011 to €75 per tonne in 2013; if he intends to increase this levy further in future years; if he recognises the knock-on effect this measure has in waste disposal charges being passed on to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45618/13]

Irish Water Funding

Pearse Doherty

45. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that the installation of domestic water meters has commenced, the amount the full project will cost; and if he will provide a breakdown of current and capital spend for Irish Water. [44811/13]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Pearse Doherty

67. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the delivery of the National Asset Management Agency social leasing initiatives, including, in tabular form, a breakdown under the headings of occupied, in the process of being occupied, vacant and in need of works, detailing the local authority area in which they are situated and the expected cost on a monthly basis of these leases as well as any money which has been spent to date in making them suitable for occupation. [44842/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Pearse Doherty

362. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses in Dublin North West; if he will provide a breakdown of the location of any houses that have been transferred by the National Asset Management Agency to the local authorities for the purpose of alleviating social housing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44551/13]

Foreshore Licences Applications

Pearse Doherty

373. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems experienced by Donegal County Council in obtaining a foreshore licence for Burtonport; the reason for the delay in granting the foreshore licence; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the delay has resulted in the loss of funding for the establishment of a marina in the area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Donegal County Council paid in excess of €100,000 to secure the licence; his views on whether it is acceptable that Donegal County Council has been waiting in excess of four years for the licence; the steps he will take to investigate the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42383/13]

Foreshore Issues

Pearse Doherty

374. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered introducing a mechanism for the public to access foreshore licence records, particularly in respect of title, boundary and purpose of licence in order to avoid potential disputes between multiple foreshore licence holders in an area; if he considers such a mechanism to be a worthwhile development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42384/13]

Foreshore Licences Applications

Pearse Doherty

375. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the circumstances in which a foreshore licence application would be referred to the Chief State Solicitor’s office; the total number of foreshore licences applications referred to the Chief State Solicitor's office per year over the past ten years; the average length of time those applications referred remained in the Chief State Solicitor’s office; the current number of foreshore licence applications currently with the Chief State Solicitor’s office; if he considers the referral of a foreshore licence application to the Chief State Solicitor’s office to be normal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42385/13]

Unfinished Housing Developments

Pearse Doherty

413. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the High Court case taken against Donegal County Council in relation to the scheme for unfinished estates; his views on whether this judgment could have implications for other local authorities; if he has analysed the judgment in the case with respect to potential implications for other local authorities; if he will allocate additional funding to Donegal County Council to address the additional legal obligations placed on it as a result of the judgment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42387/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Pearse Doherty

414. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will prioritise the installation of a sewerage scheme for the village of Burtonport, County Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency regarding pollution in this village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42388/13]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Pearse Doherty

415. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to replace the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42405/13]

Litter Pollution

Pearse Doherty

468. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has examined the possibility of introducing a levy on graffiti spray cans and the amount a levy of 20 cent and 50 cent on a can would raise. [40668/13]

Litter Pollution

Pearse Doherty

469. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has examined the possibility of introducing a levy on packets of chewing gum and the amount a levy of 5 cent, 10 cent and 20 cent on a packet would raise. [40669/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Yield

Pearse Doherty

166. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the revenue that would be raised if the non principal private residency charge was retained and increased by €150; or by €200. [40266/13]

Rural Development Programme Projects

Pearse Doherty

487. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a report on the investigation by the Ombudsman carried out in respect of a community project (details supplied) in County Meath has been communicated to his Department; if the Ombudsman has recommended to the Department the funding that should be paid in respect of the community project in question; if he will advise if his Department has taken any action on foot of the investigation by the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36772/13]

Climate Change Policy

Pearse Doherty

99. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there has been any contact or discussions between his Department and his Northern Ireland Assembly counterpart, Mr Alex Atwood, on climate change legislation. [33802/13]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Pearse Doherty

100. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the delivery of housing from the National Asset Management Agency special purpose vehicle; and if he will provide a breakdown of where these units have been delivered. [33777/13]

Local Authority Charges Yield

Pearse Doherty

407. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the revenue that could be raised for the State if the second home tax was retained and increased to €300 per house. [30651/13]

Local Authority Housing Issues

Pearse Doherty

59. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent call by NABCO and ICSH for investment in social housing which would support jobs; and if he is considering any proposals to undertake an investment package in social housing which would increase housing stock, improve conditions and create jobs. [27058/13]

Irish Water Funding

Pearse Doherty

65. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the other sources of funding that are available to Irish Water apart from the National Pensions Reserve Fund, public Exchequer and borrowing on the commercial market; and the way it will access this funding. [28067/13]