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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Health the way in which it is proposed to reduce the number of overdue assessments of need under the Disability Act 2005 in the Dublin north local health area. Darragh O'Brien T.D. REPLY The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he is in receipt of an application for funding for the Fingal Coastal Way from Fingal county council and specifically for the Broadmeadow Way section between Malahide and Donabate; if he will grant the funding required for this coastal greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY I understand that no formal application for funding has been submitted by Fingal County Council for either the Fingal Coastal Way or the Broadmeadow Way. My Department is currently developing a Strategy for the Future Development of Greenways that will set out the criteria for awarding funding to projects such as this. I would expect to be in a position to announce a new round of funding once the Strategy has been finalised. I would urge all local authorities to develop their planning and design of projects as much as possible in advance of a new round of funding, and to consult as widely as possible with all stakeholders including landowners alongside and adjacent to the proposed routes. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the number of appeals under the exceptional circumstances clause that have been granted by the Pyrite Remediation Board since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme by the Pyrite Resolution Board for certain dwellings affected by significant pyrite damage. The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie. The scheme is applicable to dwellings which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. This ensures that, having regard to available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave. Where a dwelling, otherwise not eligible for inclusion in the scheme, adjoins a dwelling already included in the scheme, such a dwelling may be considered in accordance with the exceptional circumstance provisions set out in section 17 of the Act. Section 17 provides that exceptional circumstances may apply where – - failure to include a dwelling in the scheme may result in damage to that dwelling or damage to the dwelling being remediated under the scheme, or - pyrite remediation work is causing or may cause damage to a dwelling. The Housing Agency will consider if exceptional circumstances apply when the Remedial Works Plan is being drawn up; the Board will be informed of any recommendation for a decision in the matter. As matters currently stand, no dwellings have been included in the pyrite remediation scheme under the exceptional circumstances provisions of the Act. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the next phase of a school building for a school (details supplied) will commence; the status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Lusk Community College, Lusk, Co. Dublin REPLY The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The Letter of Intent has issued to the preferred bidder and, subject to no issues, arising it is anticipated that construction will commence early in the 4th quarter of 2017. QUESTION To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Hedgestown National School, Balbriggan REPLY My Department issued comments on the stage 2b submission to the Board of Management on 7th February and requested confirmation from the Board that the new school site has been finalised between the Patron body and the land owner. My Department has recently been in contact with the BOM who has advised that the site agreement is nearing completion. Upon completion of the site acquisition by the Patron, my Department will then revert to the Board of Management with regard to further progression of the project. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, Co Dublin. REPLY The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers was included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. The delivery of the building project necessitates the acquisition of a suitable site and my Department is in ongoing liaison with the Patron of the school in the matter. |
PQs
All Parlamientary Questions I make and their answers can be viewed in this section Archives
January 2020
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