Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide information on the number of households in unfinished estates in County Tipperary that are exempt from the household charge in 2012; the reason for the disparity between these figures; if he will confirm if all outstanding issues in the unfinished estates that have been removed from the list have been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15567/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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An exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The list of developments is broken down on a county by county basis. Whereas 43 developments in County Tipperary were listed under the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012, 34 developments in the County are listed under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The specific information in relation to the number of households benefitting respectively from the waiver from the household charge and the exemption from the local property tax is not available in my Department.

The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the National Housing Survey 2012.

The Survey was carried out over the course of summer 2012 by my Department in conjunction with local authorities and the Housing Agency.

The categorisation methodology for the survey was different to that which was used in 2011 and which provided the basis for the waiver from the household charge. That earlier categorisation related largely to the level of on-site activity at the time the 2011 survey was carried out and had less to do with the physical character of a development. The 2012 survey was based purely and objectively on the actual state of completion of a development. Only developments that were deemed by local authorities to be in a “seriously problematic condition”, regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included.

For purposes of preparing the final list of developments to which the exemption from the local property tax would apply local authorities were asked by my Department to confirm or update the then existing list as appropriate.

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was exempt from the household charge in 2012 but is not now exempt from the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15657/13]

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) was exempt from the household charge in 2012 but is not now exempt from the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15658/13]

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) was exempt from the household charge in 2012 but is not now exempt from the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15659/13]

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was exempt from the household charge in 2012 but is not now exempt from the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15660/13]

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was exempt from the household charge in 2012 but is not now exempt from the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15661/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 228, inclusive, together.

An exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013.

The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the National Housing Survey 2012.

The Survey was carried out over the course of summer 2012 by my Department in conjunction with local authorities and the Housing Agency.

The categorisation methodology for the survey was different to that which was used in 2011 and which provided the basis for the waiver from the household charge. That earlier categorisation related largely to the level of on-site activity at the time the 2011 survey was carried out and had less to do with the physical character of a development. The 2012 survey was based purely and objectively on the actual state of completion of a development. Only developments that were deemed by local authorities to be in a “seriously problematic condition”, regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included.

For purposes of preparing the final list of developments to which the exemption from the local property tax would apply local authorities were asked by my Department to confirm or update the then existing list as appropriate.

I can advise the Deputy that the prisoner referred to was afforded an escorted visit, in the company of an Acting Chief Officer and a prison Chaplain, to a family grave on the 21 March 2013. The prisoner had previously been granted an escorted visit, again accompanied by an Acting Chief Officer and a Chaplain, to view the remains of their parent, in private, away from the public and other family members at the funeral home. The prisoner did not attend the funeral mass or burial. It should also be noted that the escort only took a few hours and was on condition that the staff resources were available to carry out same.

The Deputy will be aware that it is open to all prisoners to apply for compassionate temporary release or for escorted visits, in the company of prison staff, for significant family occurrences such as funerals, communions or confirmations etc. All requests for temporary release or escorted outings are considered on a case by case basis and subject to appropriate security considerations.

Prisoners may be approved escorted visits on compassionate/humanitarian grounds to the graveside of a close family member in the event of a bereavement at a later stage if they are not permitted to attend the funeral. A number of criteria is considered prior to granting the applications including the prisoners remission date, behaviour in prison and engagement with the therapeutic services within the prison. The safety of the public and any possible victim issues are also taken into account.

In this case the prisoner is due for release early next year and their behaviour and engagement with services, in particular the Psychology Service is very good. Their was no risk to the public and the local Gardaí were informed prior to the escort taking place.

The need to escort prisoners outside prisons arises routinely in a number of contexts and prison staff are assigned to carry out these duties as part of their day to day work. Therefore, I can advise the Deputy that no additional expenditure would have been incurred as a result of this escort.