Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Water Meters Installation

Joe Higgins

284. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that contractors receiving funds from his Department to install water meters across the State ostensibly so that they can employ persons to install said meters can simultaneously obtain workers on the JobBridge scheme funded by the Department of Social Protection leading to a situation where contractors can retain more profit from the funds than they receive from his Department. [48186/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance

Dessie Ellis

285. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his further plans for an estate (details supplied) in County Wicklow following the spending of €1 million to renovate eight units in the estate. [48247/13]

Planning Issues

Dessie Ellis

286. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an estate (details supplied) in County Wicklow which received planning permission from the local authority, was built on a flood plain, and if he will instruct Wicklow County Council to conduct an investigation into the awarding of this planning permission. [48269/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

287. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total social housing stock in County Meath. [48279/13]

International Agreements

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

288. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken by his Department on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48319/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

289. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons on the social housing list in County Meath broken down by area; his plans to address the lengthening waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48354/13]

Pyrite Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

290. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the approach that will be taken in deciding those houses to benefit from the €10 million funding announced for pyrite resolution; his plans for future funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48358/13]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Property Numbers

Derek Nolan

291. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form and by local authority, a breakdown of the number of units that are being provided to persons through the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48363/13]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Property Numbers

Derek Nolan

292. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the amount each local authority spends on the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48364/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Derek Nolan

293. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he plans to allocate the €30 million announced for a new social housing programme in Budget 2014 to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48365/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Collection

John Deasy

294. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine the possibility of introducing an easy-payment system for persons who inadvertently did not pay their non-private principal private residence charge in time and who wish to comply but have accumulated penalties and are unable to pay this amount in one full payment as is currently requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48374/13]

Commercial Rates

Finian McGrath

147. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the action that can be taken to deal with high commercial rates and assist small businesses (details supplied). [47516/13]

Local Authority Staff Numbers

Patrick O'Donovan

148. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the number of personnel-WTE attached to the processing of drivers licences in each local authority for that year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47421/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Michelle Mulherin

149. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review regulation guidelines made pursuant to section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 which pressurises a husband and wife who are separated, where one remains in the family home which is in their joint names, to enter into a formal legal separation or divorce in order for the spouse vacating the family home to be deemed eligible for social housing support even if they have no other available accommodation which they can afford without State assistance and have a housing need in accordance with criteria laid down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47450/13]

Local Authority Housing

Michael McGrath

150. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options open to a local authority tenant who has been offered the possibility of purchasing the home from the local authority but where the valuation put on the property by the authority appears to be excessive; the rights the tenant has to challenge the valuation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47456/13]

Local Authorities Management

Joan Collins

151. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that legal advice presented to the current mayor of Sligo confirms that a meetings administrator designated by a county manager who fails in the obligation to issue notification to councillors for statutory meetings of the borough council is in clear breach of statutory duty; if it has been drawn to his attention that legal advice presented to the previous mayor of Sligo clearly stated that the county manager or his designated officials have a bounden duty to adhere to the mayor's directions in relation to the convening of meetings of the borough council and that the county manager is not entitled to subvert both the standing order of the council and the legislation in relation to the convening of borough council meetings; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Sligo county manager failed to ensure that his designated meetings administrator issued notification to elected councillors for statutory meetings of Sligo Borough Council which were to take place in April, May, September, October and November 2013; if it has been drawn to his attention that the Sligo county manager did ensure that his designated meetings administrator issued notification to elected councillors for statutory meetings of the borough council in June and July 2013; if it has been drawn to his attention that the manager failed to ensure that his designated meetings administrator issued notification to councillors for borough council meetings requisitioned by the mayor of Sligo for 21 October and the 4 November 2013; if he will consider introducing legislation which will prevent a county manager and his or her designated meetings administrator from subverting local democracy and from subverting local government legislation enacted by the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47512/13]

Local Government Reform

Lucinda Creighton

152. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Local Government Bill 2013 addresses all of the concerns raised by the Council of Europe in its criticism of Ireland’s local democracy; the specific changes that were made to the Local Government Bill 2013 arising from the criticism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47552/13]

Property Taxation Yield

Lucinda Creighton

153. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No.175 of 24 October 2013, when he decided that it has been necessary to defer defining a certain proportion of the proceeds of the local property tax to be retained in each local authority until 2015 rather than 2014 as initially promised; if this decision was a collective Government decision; if he will confirm the proportion of the proceeds of the local property tax that will be retained in each local authority in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47553/13]

Irish Water Establishment

Lucinda Creighton

154. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 24 October 2013, the changes that occurred relating to the establishment of Irish Water presenting local government with significant organisational and financial challenges that had not previously been envisaged; the date on which he became aware of these additional financial challenges and the additional costs associated with these challenges; the total estimated additional amount in euro that had not previously been accounted for, to deal with the financial challenges in Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47554/13]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Simon Harris

155. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are guidelines or standards in place to ensure that all local authority houses are provided with heating and insulation to a sufficient standard; if such standards are specific to Ireland or correspond with specific European directives or regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47555/13]

Local Authority Charges Application

Michael Moynihan

156. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether it is fair and appropriate that not-for-profit child care facilities are subject to local authority rates; his plans to introduce legislation in the near future which would exempt not-for-profit child care centres from local authority rates liability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47561/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Denis Naughten

157. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the plan by Roscommon County Council to establish the west Roscommon regional water supply scheme, including the Castlerea regional water supply scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47564/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Denis Naughten

158. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to his announcement on Friday last in County Roscommon regarding the upgrade of the four regional water supply schemes, when the letter of approval was issued to Roscommon County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47607/13]

Leader Programmes Funding

Brendan Smith

159. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to the Cavan-Monaghan Leader group as they have a number of important projects awaiting approval and these projects, if undertaken, will have substantial economic impact across the Cavan-Monaghan region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47609/13]

Leader Programmes Funding

Brendan Smith

160. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide additional funding with immediate effect to the Cavan-Monaghan Leader group as the reduction in funding of €2.1 million last May is having a very negative effect on a number of projects with good employment potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47610/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Michael Healy-Rae

161. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47624/13]

Local Government Reform

Michael Healy-Rae

162. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the Government decision to shut down town councils and centralise local government within county council structures, the way the Government proposes to implement the decision; his plans for the buildings currently housing the local council offices; what will happen to all the workers employed within them; the measures being put in place for local authorities to take over this work; the amount of money that has been spent to date on preparatory works for this move, for example in County Kerry; the amount of money that has been given to Kerry County Council to help it take over the working of Killarney, Listowel and Tralee Town Councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47626/13]

Local Government Reform

Michael Healy-Rae

163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under the new Local Government Act, whether it is proposed that the chairpersons of municipal authorities would be unable to use the title of mayor; if an amendment will be made; if he will consider allowing the chairperson of each municipal district to also assume the title of mayor of the major town, that in the past had a mayor of that town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47630/13]

Local Government Reform

Michael Healy-Rae

164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the proposal that mayors of counties would no longer have the title of mayor and they would revert to being the chairperson or the cathaoirleach of the local authority, at a time when stronger relationships with other parts of Europe should be forged, his views on whether it is a retrograde step to lose the title of mayor and revert to the title of chairperson; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47631/13]

Water Services Funding

Michael Healy-Rae

165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money that will be spent per year on Ireland’s water system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47632/13]

Community Development Projects

Ray Butler

107. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that has been allocated to a project (details supplied), to include all funding allocated to the community groups involved; the names of these groups; the net amount allocated to each of them; the amount of funding that was spent on consultants for each community project; and the administration costs of each project and-or the total administration cost of all of these projects. [47189/13]

Property Tax Yield

Stephen Donnelly

108. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the local government reforms and the proposed increased fiscal responsibilities at a municipal council level, if he will provide a breakdown of local property tax revenues on a municipal council level for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47195/13]

Housing Adaptation Grant Applications

Terence Flanagan

109. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the home renovation incentive in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47206/13]

Building Regulations Compliance

Dara Calleary

110. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the provisions that are made for non-direct labour in the draft building control regulation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47238/13]

Seniors Alert Scheme Issues

Pat Deering

111. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the senior alert scheme following the recent budget announcement that the telephone allowance will be discontinued from January 2014; and the provision that will be made to cater for areas where mobile coverage is limited or non-existent. [47251/13]

Leader Programmes Administration

Mary Lou McDonald

112. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the introduction of local community development committees as set out in the Local Government Bill 2013 is consistent with the draft common provisions regulations of the European Structural and Investment Funds 2014–2020, with particular reference to the decision by him to allocate primary responsibility for co-ordination, oversight and governance of the EU supported Leader programme to these committees. [47265/13]

Leader Programmes Administration

Mary Lou McDonald

113. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the proposed local community development committees as set out in the Local Government Bill 2013 are consistent with the main aims and key components of the EU funded community-led local development. [47266/13]

Leader Programmes Administration

Mary Lou McDonald

114. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the proposed funding distribution model to be used by local community development committees when distributing EU Common Strategic Framework funds. [47267/13]

Water Supply

Thomas P. Broughan

115. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the manner in which the water supply for the Dublin region will be increased in view of recent problems with restrictions having been put in place at night to households in the Dublin region, particularly as the management of water services will be transferred to Irish Water in the near future. [47306/13]

Water Supply

Thomas P. Broughan

116. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions he has taken to address the recent restrictions on the water supply provided to the Dublin region; if he has requested a report on the matter from the local authorities involved; and if his Department has devised a plan of action to eliminate such restrictions having to be imposed again. [47307/13]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Sandra McLellan

117. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding the Irish Local Development Network receives directly and indirectly from his Department to run its national body; the other funding the ILDN receives from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47318/13]

Private Rented Accommodation Standards

Jerry Buttimer

118. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider reviewing the impact of laws on receivership on residential tenants; if he will consider putting in place provisions to protect the rights of the one in five families living in private rented housing if they should be faced with a situation where a receiver is appointed so that the statutory and contractual obligations of the landlord apply equally to the receiver who may be in receipt of rent being paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47319/13]

Burial Grounds

Michael McCarthy

119. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Muslim burials in Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47336/13]

Commercial Rates Impact

Finian McGrath

120. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the situation regarding high commercial rates of from €37,000 to €90,000 each year for businesses such as hotels, pubs and restaurants as it is damaging employment in this sector. [47350/13]

Noise Pollution Legislation

Jerry Buttimer

121. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the benefits of designating parts of cities as quiet areas; if he will provide details of any quiet areas that he has already designated; if he will consider designating areas of Cork city as quiet areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47376/13]

Seniors Alert Scheme Issues

Ged Nash

122. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has secured additional funding for the seniors community alert scheme for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47383/13]

Housing Assistance Payments Implementation

John Lyons

123. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the introduction of the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47389/13]

Local Authority Work Placement Programme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

639. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of the €2.835m allocated for the local authority social employment scheme in 2013 that has been spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45822/13]

Motor Tax Exemptions

Eoghan Murphy

640. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the following case regarding motor taxation (details supplied). [45898/13]

Motor Tax Exemptions

Eoghan Murphy

641. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the following case regarding motor taxation (details supplied). [45899/13]