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503 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 504[Mr. Roche.]range of housing needs. I intend bringing proposalsto Government in response to thesereports as soon as possible.Alternative Energy Projects.379. Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe steps he is taking to ensure that geothermalheating is included in all public buildings; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter.[5878/05]Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government (Mr. Roche): While thenational climate change strategy identifies themaximisation of renewable energy capacity as anessential step towards meeting our greenhousegas emissions limitation target under the KyotoProtocol, it would not be appropriate for buildingregulations to prescribe specific systems forpublic buildings or to promote one type of renewableenergy over others.I understand Sustainable Energy Ireland Limited,SEI, is supporting a number of programmesin geothermal heating. SEI comes under the remitof the Minister for Communications, Marine andNatural Resources.NameDog Breeding Establishments.380. Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe details of the list of members of the workinggroup to review the management of dog breedingestablishments; the criteria for membership; thename of the chairperson; the terms of referenceof the committee; how often it meets; when itsfinal report is expected; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [5941/05]Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government (Mr. Roche): The members ofthe working group to review the management ofdog breeding establishments, and the bodies whonominated them, are set out in the table below.The group comprises representatives of a crosssection of relevant bodies which have an interestor expertise in the matter. The terms of referenceof the group are “to examine the current positionregarding management of kennels and to makerecommendations for such improvements, includingbetter regulation, as it considers necessary inthis area”.Its work programme is a matter for the groupitself. As part of its examination of the issues, Iunderstood the group undertook public consultationand has held three meetings to date. Iexpect to receive a report by the end of March.OrganisationMr. Finbarr Heslin ChairmanMr. Frank McRorySuperintenent Aidan ReidMr. Bobby BehanMr. Pat BranganMr. Denis HistonMr. Garret ShineMr. Fred CuthbertMr. Paul FloodMr. Conor DowlingMr. Kevin RingMr. Sean O LaoideMr. Frank Gallagher Working Group SecretaryVeterinary Surgeon, Beaufield Veterinary Centre, Celbridge, Co. KildareVeterinary Council of IrelandAn Garda SíochánaNational German Shepherd Working Dog AssociationDepartment of Agriculture and FoodIrish Greyhound BoardCounty and City Managers’ AssociationThe Irish Kennel Club,The Dog Breeders Association of IrelandISPCADepartment of the Environment, Heritage and Local GovernmentVeterinary Ireland,Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local GovernmentTraveller Accommodation.381. Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government ifhe allocated funding to local authorities to fundTraveller accommodation; if he must authoriseany compulsory purchase orders that might berequired to meet accommodation needs; if fundingis provided for specific requests; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [5942/05]Minister of State at the Department of theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government(Mr. N. Ahern): Under the Housing (TravellerAccommodation) Act 1998, all relevant localauthorities adopted Traveller accommodationprogrammes. The first programmes, covering theperiod 2000 to 2004, have just been completed. Asecond round of programmes, covering the period2005 to 2008, is in the process of being adopted.The provision, under these programmes of newTraveller-specific accommodation and the refurbishmentof existing Traveller-specific accommodationwhich includes halting sites and grouphouses is funded under my Department’s Travelleraccommodation capital programme. In theperiod 2000 to 2004, local authorities received anallocation of \125.69 million, of which \40 millionwas allocated in 2004. This does not include thecost of standard local authority accommodationprovided for Travellers which is funded under myDepartment’s local authority housing programme,or housing provided by voluntary housingbodies allocated to Travellers and funded undermy Department’s voluntary housing schemes.
505 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 506As section 214 of the Planning and DevelopmentAct 2000 transferred functions of the Ministerfor the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment in regard to the determination ofcompulsory purchase orders to An Bord Pleanálawith effect from 1 January 2001, I have no functionin authorising such orders.Local authorities develop particular Travellerspecificaccommodation schemes in accordancewith their Traveller accommodation programmes.Prior to commencing such schemes, local authoritiesmust obtain approval from my Department,which allocates funding from within theoverall Traveller-specific allocation to suchschemes. My Department will continue to providethe necessary funding to meet the cost tolocal authorities of the provision of Travellerspecificaccommodation.Details of the amount available to authoritiesfor the provision and refurbishment of Travellerspecificaccommodation will be made available inthe revised Estimates for public service for 2005.Housing Policy.382. Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government ifhis Department has set a social rent housing stockper population target; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [5971/05]Minister of State at the Department of theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government(Mr. N. Ahern): The Government’s targets inregard to social housing are not set on the basisof a social housing stock per population. Quantifyingtargets in this manner would not be appropriategiven the influence of demographic andeconomic factors on the level of need at any pointin time. The focus of the Government’s housingprogrammes is on responding to identified needs.A broad range of targeted initiatives have beenintroduced in recent years to address the needsof low income groups and those with social andspecial housing needs.The Government has responded to increasedlevels of social housing need by expanding socialand affordable housing output significantly inrecent years and is committed to maintainingstrong programmes into the future. Additionalresources are being made available this year toincrease the output of social housing further. Asa result, we expect that approximately 5,500 newhouses will be started under the main local authorityprogramme and that the output of the voluntaryand co-operative housing sector will alsoincrease.In total, my Department will spend a record\1.3 billion in Exchequer funding on supports forsocial and affordable housing programmes in2005. This will enable the needs of more than13,000 households to be met this year throughexisting schemes and the new rent accommodationscheme will address the long-term housingneeds of some 5,000 recipients of rentsupplement.The decision to introduce five-year multiannualcapital investment programmes providesan important opportunity to ensure a structuredbasis for the planning and delivery of all socialand affordable housing programmes. The statutoryassessment of social housing which must beundertaken at the end of March this year will providean up-to-date assessment of social housingneeds.To maximise the benefits of this multi-annualapproach, five-year action plans for social andaffordable housing have been developed by localauthorities. The main objective in developingthese action plans is the need to ensure that theinvestment available for these programmesachieves the desired effect in the long term bytackling real need and breaking cycles of disadvantageand dependency having regard to thefunding available under the five-year multiannualcapital envelopes.The expanded social and affordable housingprovision over recent years has had a beneficialimpact on the social rented housing stock.Returns from local authorities indicate that thenumber of occupied local authority dwellings hasincreased in recent years. The number of occupiedlocal authority dwellings at the end of 2003was in the order of 107,000, compared with 99,200at the end of 1998.Fire Stations.383. Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister forthe Environment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe status of an application to provide a newfire station at Freshford, County Kilkenny; theamount of funding already allocated to the project;the reason for the delay in the constructionof the station; the contract price of the project;the timeframe involved; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [5976/05]Minister of State at the Department of theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government(Mr. B. O’Keeffe): In July 2004, my Departmentconveyed approval to Kilkenny County Councilto invite tenders for the construction of a new firestation at Freshford at an estimated all-in cost of\590,000. The council’s tender proposals areawaited in the Department.384. Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister forthe Environment, Heritage and Local Governmentwhen a new fire station will be provided atCastlecomer, County Kilkenny; if the project hasbeen approved and costed; if funding will bemade available in 2005; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [5977/05]Minister of State at the Department of theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government(Mr. B. O’Keeffe): Kilkenny County Council’sproposal for a new fire station at Castlecomer isbeing considered in my Department in the contextof the fire services capital programme having
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