Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure
Vote 25 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

3:00 pm

Photo of Tony McLoughlinTony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Representatives of Irish Water appeared before the committee last week, and there are major concerns regarding the relationship between the staff of local authorities and Irish Water. We have seen what has happened in Northern Ireland, where huge mistakes were made. The representatives, when pressed, said that in the short term perhaps staff at local authority level throughout the country could do what was required. I believe, as I am sure do other members, that they are the appropriate people to identify the issues, as they have been working with this system for many years. What arrangements or firm commitments have been given to the Department and Irish Water that these people's jobs will be secure in the future? I have been told that many of these people are concerned about the security of their jobs after 2018. The commitment given to us in this respect was only for the short term. Some of these people are young and have large commitments to meet. It is vital that we get clarification from the Department and Irish Water on a firm commitment regarding the security of these people's jobs.

I have a few questions for the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan. Under the capital allocation programme, the Minister of State referred to funding for unfinished housing estates throughout the country, referring to those under NAMA and various others. What amount of funding is available for this work for 2013? Unfinished housing estates are a major issue throughout the country. It is vital that adequate funding be available to ensure that most of these estates can be completed. This would assist in reducing the number on the housing waiting lists. I do not know the Minister of State's objective regarding the use of these houses. I note there has been a reduction in the capital allocation programme to €112 million in 2012 and that funding under the programme provides for acquisition programmes and a number of schemes which are to be started during 2013. I believe there are adequate numbers of houses in many areas of the country to accommodate many people's housing needs. Another major issue is retrofitting and improvement works on local authority houses. Does the Minister of State have information on the carrying out of this work next year? A complaint I have received on numerous occasions is that local authority houses are left for far too long from the time they are vacated until the next tenant takes up residence. That happens because funding is not available for such work. It is vital that this be addressed. It would provide a saving in terms of generating work on the retrofitting of houses and it would ensure people get into their homes as quickly as possible.

What is the budget for regeneration programmes for 2013? The Minster of State might indicate what areas will benefit from regeneration projects for next year.

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