Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
Annual Report 2013
An Irish version and an English version of the Annual Report (2013) is available on – www.environ.ie.
Contents
Foreword by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government 3
Summary of Main Achievements 2013 9
Chapter 1: Housing 15
Chapter 2: Water 22
Chapter 3: Environment 26
Chapter 4: Local Government and Franchise 31
Chapter 5: Communities and Rural Development 36
Chapter 6: Planning 42
Chapter 7: Met Éireann 47
Chapter 8: Resourcing the Modern Department 54
APPENDICES 62
APPENDIX 1: Legislative Activity in 2013 62
Appendix 2: Publications in 2013 93
APPENDIX 3: Annual Energy Efficiency Reporting - Overview of Energy Usage in 2013 98
Foreword by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
The year 2013 proved to be a very challenging, but productive one for the Department, with a number of Programme for Government commitments progressed, in tandem with the Department being heavily involved with Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency. In that context, my colleagues, Ministers of State Jan O’Sullivan, T.D., and Fergus O’Dowd, T.D., and I are pleased to accept delivery of the Department’s Annual Report, which provides a broad overview of the activities of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government during 2013.
The Statement of Strategy 2011-2014 outlines the Department’s high level objectives and key strategies across its Programme areas (Housing, Water Services, Environment and Waste Management, Local Government, Community and Rural Development, Planning and Met Éireann). The Strategy clearly illustrates the Department’s broad remit and reflects the strategic priorities and considerable reform agenda of the Government for National Recovery Programme 2011 – 2016 and facilitated Ireland’s exit from the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support.
The Department’s performance is measured on an annual basis against the key outputs and performance indicators outlined in the Statement of Strategy, but most importantly by the improvements it makes to the lives of those it serves.
Over the course of 2013, the Department progressed policies that better positioned Ireland to adapt and meet a range of present and future challenges that face the country. The work of the Department in 2013 commenced the most radical reform of local government in over a century, set in train the establishment of a body to manage and deliver our valuable water resource, helped reduce the tally of environmental infringements against Ireland and, in doing so, earned a commendation from the European Commission and contributed to the restoration of Ireland’s international standing. In addition, the Department centred its updated leadership role in addressing the significant challenges in the complex and evolving planning and housing landscape, and was also active in managing what was the final year of the current Leader and Local and Community Development programme initiatives which make such a significant impact on local communities across the country.
On behalf of my Ministerial colleagues and on my own behalf, I wish sincerely to thank the staff of the Department for the skill, energy and professionalism with which they worked to achieve a considerable amount of progress across a wide range of areas and sectors during 2013. I would like thank Geraldine Tallon for her commitment in the year under review and for her contribution to the Department during her tenure as Secretary General. I wish her well in her retirement.
The achievements of the Department in 2013 have paved the way for the delivery of initiatives in economic and physical regeneration, social and community development and environmental protection which will facilitate job creation and a sustainable future.
Phil Hogan, T.D.
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
Secretary General’s Statement
Building on our work in recent years, the Department sustained delivery in 2013 across a broad range of agendas, bringing a number of far reaching policies of major national significance to fruition, building on significant development work in the preceding years.
The Department continued to play a significant role in Ireland’s economic recovery, part of which involved focussing on ensuring that Ireland’s Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2013 was a success, helping to rebuild our international reputation.
Over the course of the Presidency, the Department delivered on a number of high level outcomes such as the UN Treaty on Mercury, the EU’s 7th Environment Action Programme and a new Directive on Nuclear Safety Standards. Sustained work on the part of the Department also dramatically reduced Ireland’s tally of environmental infringements, earning a commendation from the European Commission in the process.
In addition to the high level outcomes achieved by the Department, the Environment Division successfully led the environmental agenda during our Presidency, including successfully negotiating eight First Reading Agreements with the European Parliament, as well as the endorsement of Council Conclusions on a new Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and on the Rio+20 Post 2015 Agenda.
In parallel with the significant EU and international business associated with the Presidency, the Department’s domestic agenda continued to move apace, with significant progress being made on a range of Programme for Government commitments.
Post the Presidency the Department restructured and revised its operation to maximise efficiency and effectiveness across the organisation and provide maximum support to policy implementation, change management and business process improvement. This is delivering a more agile, flexible and responsive organisation.
In the Housing area, over €95m was invested in regeneration programmes and in remedial and other improvement works. The on-going restructuring of the Social Housing Investment Programme delivered 1,042 units through leasing and 4,701 additional transfers under the Rental Accommodation Scheme. In addition, over 1,000 new social accommodation units were delivered through local authorities and approved housing bodies.
The Department commenced the implementation of the housing element of the Government’s deinstitutionalisation programme to support people with disabilities leaving institutions. Coupled with this, a protocol governing housing assessment and allocation processes for people with disabilities was developed and issued to all housing authorities.
On foot of the continued implementation of the Mortgage-to-Rent scheme for borrowers from private lenders and a successful pilot of Mortgage-to-Rent scheme for borrowers from local authorities during 2013, the Local Authority Mortgage-to-Rent scheme was rolled out nationally in February 2014.
Significant work continued in 2013 to deal with unfinished housing developments. A special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF), was provided for in Budget 2014, to further assist in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments. In addition, progress was made on dealing with legacy issues associated with pyrite; in particular, the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013, signed by the President in late December 2013, provided for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board to develop and oversee the implementation of a scheme to remediate dwellings affected by pyrite related damage. Learning from lessons of the past, the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 were announced as the cornerstone of a suite of measures which aim to strengthen the current arrangements for the control of building activity. These requirements will bring improved accountability to bear in our building industry.
Progress in the water sector continued, with the establishment of Irish Water. This builds on the intensive work undertaken in previous years, culminating in the enactment of the Water Services Act 2013 which provided a statutory basis for the domestic metering programme and the establishment of Irish Water and the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 which provided for the transfer of responsibility for water services provision to Irish Water and the assignment of responsibility for economic regulation of water services to the Commission for Energy Regulation. The installation of water meters commenced in August 2013. Over 100,000 meters were installed at the end of 2013, and some 300km of mains were repaired or replaced under the water conservation programme.
The Department also received Government approval for the priority drafting of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill, which aims to integrate the foreshore consent system with the on-land planning system operated by An Bord Pleanála and local authorities, thereby helping give effect to a number of Government commitments.
In addition to a busy international agenda, the Environment Division of the Department made significant progress on a busy domestic agenda. Three lead authorities for regional waste management planning were designated in June 2013. The monitoring of the implementation of the 70 cross-government measures identified in the framework document, Our Sustainable Future: A Framework for Sustainable Development for Ireland also continued in 2013. In addition, considerable attention was devoted to progressing the climate policy and legislative agenda.
The National Radon Control Strategy Group, established to develop a National Strategy to address the effects of radon, finalised the National Radon Control Strategy and this was subsequently published in early 2014.
Continuing with implementation of the Government’s electoral agenda, the Department’s oversight of the Franchise area saw the management of the legislative and operational arrangements for two Referendums, the enactment of legislation to redraw the local electoral map for the 2014 local elections and the re-drawing of Dáil and European constituencies.
The change in the local electoral map was progressed to enable the radical transformation in local government structures in Ireland to come into force after the 2014 local elections as part of a wider transformation of the structures, role, function and finances of local authorities. 2013 also saw the Local Government Reform Bill almost completing its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas; this legislation, which was successfully enacted in January 2014, makes legal provision for the reforms set out in the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First.
In advance of implementing these changes the Department undertook engagement with various stakeholders to advance Government proposals on local government reform. Consultation also took place on local government/local development alignment, including with the local development, community and voluntary and local government sectors and with a range of Government Departments/Agencies.
The Department’s role in the Community sector ensured the provision of funding of over €80m, under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, resulting in the creation of 1,110 full-time jobs in 2013 and infrastructural enhancements in 1,301 villages and communities across the country.
In 2013, €47.7m was spent under the Local Community Development Programme which assisted 49,790 people through education, labour market training or support into self-employment.
Grant assistance amounting to €2.3m was provided for the Seniors Alert Scheme to local community and voluntary groups towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable persons over 65, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes. 10,597 beneficiaries received monitored units as a result.
In 2013, the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, working in partnership with fire authorities, published Keeping Communities Safe (KCS). This sets out national standards in line with best international practice and will be implemented by local fire authorities over the period to end 2015.
The Planning Division saw significant activity in 2013, with 2,000 quarries assessed under the continued rollout and monitoring of the regulatory regime for quarries under the Planning Act 2000. As a result of the assessment, further guidance was issued to planning authorities under section 28 of the Act. In addition, new Development Contributions Guidelines were published in 2013.
Weather-wise, the year was notable for a very cold spring followed by a warm summer and ending with a series of storms. Met Éireann re-launched its weather warning system, now featuring colour-coded warnings that are fully aligned with the European Meteoalarm system. A new web portal was implemented to deliver weather information to public-sector agencies. Climate change research, based on participation in the EC-Earth Consortium, led to updated climate projections for Ireland and significant contributions to the IPCC in preparation for the AR5 report. An operational dispersion modelling service was developed to predict transport of air-borne pollutants.
2013 was a very productive year for the Department, particularly when the additional challenge of the Presidency of the EU is factored in and, in that light, I wish to acknowledge the considerable skill and effort of my colleagues, which allowed the Department to sustain a very strong output across its range of activities. The support and engagement from our agencies and our patrons in Local Government should also be recognised.
I would particularly like to thank my predecessor Geraldine Tallon, who retired in March 2014. It was under her stewardship, as Secretary General, that the extensive range of outcomes outlined in this Annual Report for 2013 and previous years were achieved. We are all very grateful for her leadership and achievements and we wish her well in her retirement.
I am confident that, as Ireland continues along the road towards full economic recovery, the Department has the skills, ability, energy and commitment to continue to play a key role in supporting this overriding national aperture. We will do this by a sustained focus on driving forward our business agenda in 2014 and beyond.
John McCarthy
Secretary General
Summary of Main Achievements 2013
Housing
- Delivery of 1,042 housing units from leasing, 4,701 under Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). In addition, around 950 new social accommodation units were delivered through local authorities and approved housing bodies.
- Continued investment in the National Regeneration Programme with almost €70m invested in a range of projects aimed at the physical, social and economic regeneration of key areas in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Tralee, Dundalk and Sligo. A further €25m was spent on a national programme of remedial works projects, and funding for the provision of extensions, improvement works in lieu of local authority housing and improvements to accommodate disabilities.
- Preparatory work on the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, including the completion of an economic assessment of the proposal and a detailed business process design exercise.
- The General Scheme of a Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 providing for HAP and associated items was approved by Government.
- On foot of the continued implementation of the Mortgage-to-Rent scheme for borrowers from private lenders and a successful pilot of Mortgage-to-Rent scheme for borrowers from local authorities during 2013, the Local Authority Mortgage-to-Rent scheme was rolled out nationally in February 2014.