Local Authority News Vol 36 No 4

FRONT COVER LAN 36 No 4 13/10/2017 18:39 Page 1

LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

• Minister Murphy Announces Housing Budget of €1.9 1.9 billion - 46% increase in housing budget for 2018 • Major New Social Housing Complex Unveiled at Charlemont Street Regeneration Project • EPA Drinking Water Report 2016 • New €2.9m 2.9m EU project will boost energy efficiency and cut water costs

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CONTENTS Vol 36. No 4.

FEATURES MINISTER MURPHY INVITES PROPOSALS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING ACCOMMODATION FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL HOUSING 3 NEEDS

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MAJOR NEW SOCIAL HOUSING COMPLEX UNVEILED AT CHARLEMONT STREET 5 REGENERATION PROJECT. ESRI PUTTING LOCAL EVENTS ON THE MAP

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7 CAR VIRTUAL REALITY IMPROVE ROADWORKS

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GRANT AWARDED ULTIMATE CONSUMER ENDORSEMENT FOR OIL BOILER RANGE 13 FIREBIRD LAUNCH NEW ENVIROAIR HYBRID 17 HEAT PUMP EPA DRINKING WATER REPORT 2016

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NEW €2.9M EU PROJECT WILL BOOST ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CUT WATER COSTS

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ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LAN is available FREE OF CHARGE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland.

Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, StateSponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

A GREATER FOCUS ON PROTECTING OUR MOST PRISTINE WATER ENVIRONMENTS IS 20 NEEDED, SAYS EPA BIRDHILL, CO TIPPERARY IS IRELAND’S 22 TIDIEST TOWN FOR 2017 COUNTRY RECORDS BEST EVER SHOWING 24 IN IBAL LITTER SURVEY CONCRETE TICKET COURSE UPDATE

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REGULARS IRISH WATER UPDATES

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DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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PRODUCT INFO

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Minister Murphy invites proposals for social housing accommodation for people with special housing needs Mr. Eoghan Murphy TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, has invited a further round of housing proposals from Approved Housing Bodies to provide independent living accommodation for people with special housing needs. Funding for this purpose is available under the Capital Assistance Scheme and there are already over 130 approved construction projects in the pipeline that are providing over 1,220 social homes for some of the most vulnerable in our society including the elderly, homeless and people with disabilities.

The completion of projects under the Capital Assistance Scheme is ramping up and has recently seen newly built housing provided by Cluid at Broome Lodge in Dublin 7, by Peter McVerry Trust at St. Agathaʼs Court, Dublin 1, by Respond at Carrickmacross and by the Irish Wheelchair Association at Belmullet, Co Mayo.

“The invitation for new projects under the Capital Assistance Scheme, to add to what is already in the pipeline, will help to maximise the contribution that Approved Housing Bodies can make to meeting housing needs. We want a pipeline of delivery across all areas of social housing and, in relation to sheltered housing for the most vulnerable in our society, the Approved Housing Bodies have great capacity for delivering high quality supports”, said Minister Murphy.

Local Authorities will now issue a ʻCall for Proposalsʼ to invite further construction and acquisition proposals from Approved Housing Bodies to meet this important need. This new ʻCall for Proposalsʼ under the Capital Assistance Scheme is being made in the context of Rebuilding Ireland, the Governmentʼs Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. €66 million has been set aside to facilitate the delivery of accommodation this year under the Scheme – expenditure under the scheme in 2016 was €37 million.

The Minister said “The Capital Assistance Scheme projects that are now coming on stream illustrate the very high quality housing that is being provided. We want to add to the pipeline of projects already in place so that we have delivery assured for the next few years. Indeed, I am particularly keen the over 1,000 new sheltered homes already under preparation by Approved Housing Bodies get on site as soon as possible. The funding is in place and each of these projects when completed, will bring about life-changing benefits to the tenants who will live in them”.

The Minister strongly acknowledged the contribution to date of the Approved Housing Bodies in the provision and management of social housing; their role in this regard has been specifically recognised in Rebuilding Ireland. Working with local authorities, their delivery role under the Capital Assistance Scheme meets an important range of Government priorities in the areas of housing and in improving the quality of life for a range of people with particular needs.

The Capital Assistance Scheme provides funding of up to 100% for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons requiring specific categories of housing, including the elderly, persons with an intellectual or physical disability

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Joe Cosgrove Electrical Services are pleased to be associated with J J Rhatigan on the Charlemont Street Regeneration Project If you need an electrical contractor who takes pride in safe working conditions and client satisfaction, the team at Cosgrove Electrical Services is the perfect fit for you.

Cosgrove Electrical Services Ltd. Unit 220, Block C, Blanchardstown Corporate Park 2, Blancardstown, Dublin 15 E: info@cosgroveelectrical.ie T: +353 1 885 5088 W: www.cosgroveelectrical.ie

Proud to be associated with JJR & McGarrell Reilly on the Prestigious Charlemont Regeneration Project.

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MAJOR NEW SOCIAL HOUSING COMPLEX UNVEILED AT CHARLEMONT STREET REGENERATION PROJECT cGarrell Reilly has recently unveiled the first phase of its development at the Charlemont Street Regeneration Project which sees the delivery of 79 high quality social housing units and a range of community amenities. Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy T.D. performed a topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the first phase of the development ahead of schedule.

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The regeneration project has been progressed through a partnership between McGarrell Reilly and Dublin City Council, after a competitive process in which McGarrell Reilly was selected as the preferred bidder.

Phase one has seen the delivery of 79 new high quality social housing units on the site, along with a range of community facilities. These include a large community centre featuring a sports hall with indoor five-a-side pitch, changing rooms and stage facilities, as well as office space with kitchen area and reception area. The complex will also feature a private courtyard and play area for residents. All remaining residents of Tom Kelly Road flats, some of whom have lived there since they opened in 1969, will move to new and upgraded homes.

Work on the project has been proceeding ahead of schedule, and the 79 units being delivered up front will be ready for occupation in the coming weeks. These new homes represent the cornerstone of this regeneration project, and their prominent location opens up the streetscape at Charlemont Street.

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy T.D. said: “This is a very welcome milestone in the regeneration of the Charlemont Street area, delivering 79 much needed homes along with vital community amenities for residents. This Government is determined that the State will fund more directbuild schemes. We have ring-fenced over €5bn between 2016 and 2021 to increase the total number of social houses in the State by a third over that 5-year period. We currently have 63 developments on site which are delivering 2,400 social homes, and there are over 10,000 new homes in the programme to be delivered over the next few years.”

Sean Reilly, Executive Chairman of McGarrell Reilly said: “McGarrell Reilly is delighted to have partnered with Dublin City Council to deliver these 79 state of the art social housing units ahead of construction schedule, along with the range of community facilities. From the outset we have worked closely with Dublin City Council to understand the requirements of the community, delivering the social housing and community facilities element up front. McGarrell Reilly is proud to have brought our experience and professionalism to bear in the delivery of this project. Looking ahead, we are excited to be entering the new phase of development where we will continue the total regeneration and transformation of these underutilised 5 acres in the heart of the city to provide a vibrant live, work and play area.”

Brendan Kenny, Deputy Chief Executive, Dublin City Council commented: ''This Public Private Partnership has delivered high quality new social housing as well as a transformative regeneration of the Charlemont Street Area and we commend all who have been involved. We very much appreciate the patience, resilience and support of the local community during this whole development. A special thanks is also due to the Charlemont Street Regeneration Board and its Chairperson Mr Niall Crowley.''

Funders AIB and Cardinal Capital also assisted in making the regeneration project possible.

The next phase of the project will see the development by McGarrell Reilly of 184 private residential units, bringing to 263 the total number of homes in the complex, in addition to significant commercial office space and retail units. The full completion of the project will see the total regeneration of the area, leading to a new urban environment with a mixed tenure.

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How Roscommon County Council has transformed its annual, printed events calendar into a dynamic web map, making information about local events available in a more timely way, to more people, in more ways, while saving the council weeks of effort.

Creating an accurate and up-to-date calendar of events had long been a challenge for Roscommon County Council. A significant amount of time was typically consumed by council teams at the start of each year, researching, collating and standardising events information. Yet, not all community events are organised nine or more months in advance – and even if they are, it is not uncommon for dates, locations and other key details to change. As a result, the councilʟs printed, static events lists failed to convey the full range of events taking place in the region, to a wide-enough audience, and soon got out of date, so citizens lost trust in their content.

Now, Roscommon County Council has implemented an innovative new approach to collating and publishing event information that addresses all these challenges. Using ArcGIS Online, a geographic information system (GIS) platform from Esri, the council has created a dynamic online calendar that displays events in date order, in an attractive Story Map template, comprising an interactive map of where the event is taking place and all the necessary details. Consequently, it is very easy for people to find events near them, navigating by date and location.

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The new, online Event Calendar is far more complete and up-to-date than the councilĘźs previous printed events list, because it is not limited to just those events that were planned at the beginning of the year. The calendar incorporates an integrated online events submission form, allowing event organisers to submit event information in a standardised format, at any point in time, as new community events are planned by them during the year. Once validated by a member of council staff, the event information is instantly available online and displayed sequentially by date. The dynamic calendar allows for updates to be made to event details, right up until days before the event itself, ensuring that members of the public have timely access to accurate information at all times.

Significantly, the new GIS-driven Event Calendar allows information about community events in Roscommon to be accessed online by a far greater number of people, including potential visitors to the county from anywhere in the world. As all of the events data is in a standard, open, digital format, it can also be pushed out to the countyĘźs residents using a range of mobile apps and social media.

For instance, by publishing the events data on its Open Data portal, Roscommon Council has made it possible for PinPoints Alerts Ltd to share events information with subscribers to its location-based alert service (MapAlerter). As a result, people living and working in Roscommon can receive regular updates about upcoming events in their locality, free of charge, and at no additional cost to the council.

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While the new Event Calendar delivers clear benefits for members of the public, this digital, online and GIS-based approach also creates welcomed efficiency improvements for Roscommon County Council. Indeed, the new Event Calendar is expected to save Roscommon County Council six weeks of staff time a year, as employees no longer have to research, collect, compile and standardise information, send it to the printers and arrange for the distribution of printed copies. In addition, the council has removed the requirement for colour printing, saving it money.

The new Event Calendar is just one in a succession of innovative new solutions that Roscommon County Council has been able to implement by harnessing the flexibility and capabilities of Esriʼs ArcGIS platform. “GIS enables and inspires us to transform the ways we currently do things for the betterment of the council and for the betterment of our customers,” says Barry Doyle, GIS Manager at Roscommon County Council. “By making full use of our existing investment in ArcGIS, we can work more efficiently and improve our services for citizens in so many ways.”

For more information contact Esri Ireland at mapsmakesense@esri-ireland.ie

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Virtual Roadworks ltd Tel: 0404-69707 Email : wolf@virtualroadworks.ie Web: www.roadworks.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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GRANT AWARDED ULTIMATE CONSUMER ENDORSEMENT FOR OIL BOILER RANGE eading Irish heating technology manufacturer Grant Engineering has been awarded a Which? Best Buy 2017 accolade for its entire range of 63 Grant Vortex condensing oil fired boilers. In its recently published 2017 boiler review results, the UKʼs largest independent consumer body announced Grant as the only manufacturer to receive an Oil Boiler Which? Best Buy this year for its range of award-winning Vortex condensing oil fired boilers – resulting in an impressive 63 Which? Best Buys for the brand!

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Grant Founder, Stephen Grant commented, “Receiving this accolade from one of the UKʼs leading consumer organisations is a fantastic achievement and is certainly a testament to our range of Vortex condensing oil boilers which are not only efficient, reliable and convenient, but also user and installer friendly. Furthermore, to be the only manufacturer to receive this recognition speaks volumes about the high quality of our products and our place at the forefront of the boiler market in both Ireland and the UK.” The Grant Vortex boiler range offers variety and versatility with its extensive assortment of models and is designed to fully meet the needs of both homeowners and installers alike. With its impressive efficiency ratings the Vortex range can help homeowners reduce their annual fuel bills. Meanwhile, the tailored range gives installers the great flexibility and choice required to assist customers with their home heating needs.

For almost 40 years Grant has been spearheading innovative home heating solutions across Ireland and the UK with its dedication to produce highquality, efficient and reliable heating products. This is further reinforced with the latest recognition from Which? combined with the Energy and Utilities Alliance statistics which announced Grant oil boilers as the number one selling model in 2016.

“For an Irish-owned company based in Birr, Co. Offaly, employing over 320 people and up to 80 people in the UK to have achieved this award for home heating appliances in one of Europeʼs largest markets, gives great pride to everyone involved in Grant” added Stephen Grant.

For more details please visit www.grant.eu LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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New EI Electronics 160e Series: The Next Step In Alarm Evolution Ei Electronics market leader in domestic mains powered Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detection, unveils the latest in Smoke and Heat Alarm technology with its new 160e Series.

With over €350 million of the 160 Series alarms sold to date, the new 160e Series builds on this high quality, reliable and proven technology to produce a cleaner, modern designed alarm containing a whole raft of enhancements to increase protection and performance.

The alarms have been completely redesigned to lend themselves to suiting most modern properties and to complement the latest Ei Electronic accessories. The new 160e design is up to 18% slimmer when compared to the previous 160RC Series alarms allowing them to be less obtrusive in the room, whilst maintaining the same easi-fit footprint making it simple to upgrade from previous EI alarms.

The units have been made all the easier to install. Additional screw holes have been incorporated into the base to save on installation times with all hole positions matching previous alarm bases, removing the need to drill extra holes. The holes themselves have been adapted to enable N° 8 Screws to be used and bigger terminals have been incorporated to readily accommodate 1.5mm² cable, making it easier to wire. ʻOʼ for Optical and ʻIʼ for Ionisation have been imprinted on the alarm test buttons and colour coding added to the back of every alarm to make it easier to check the right alarm type is being fitted.

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FIREBIRD LAUNCH NEW ENVIROAIR HYBRID HEAT PUMP irebird Heating Solutions has always been a name you can trust and is now a market leader in hybrid heating, with the launch of their new range of Enviroair heat pump/boiler hybrid systems. Combining the Enviroair heat pump with a Firebird Enviromax boiler, quite literally take heating to another level. The hybrid range not only boasts ultra-quiet operation, but the excellent COP (Coefficient Performance) can produce an incredible 4kW of energy for every kW of energy used to power the heat pump. These high levels of efficiency will reduce fuel bills for the homeowner when compared to other heat pump systems. Available in single phase outputs from 7.5kW to 16kW, the Enviroair hybrid range provides a compact and space saving solution as a single Monobloc unit that is installed outside the property. However, combined with the highly successful Enviromax boiler range, the hybrid system will ensure that 100% comfort heating is provided throughout the year, regardless of the weather conditions. Environmentally friendly, the Enviroair hybrid system provides the perfect heating solution for the modern new build, combining market leading technologies with over 35 years of experience. The system is easy to install and offers total flexibility, providing Part L Compliance and high BER ratings.

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The hybrid range has particular functions, including screed drying when integrated into an underfloor heating system. To complete the hybrid, Firebird also offer cylinders specifically designed for heat pump operation. These are pre-plumbed and make installation easy. There are 5 cylinders which range from 180 litres to 400 litres.

The outstanding energy efficiency of the Enviroair hybrid range is achieved by utilising cutting-edge DC Inverter Technology that saves on energy consumption and money all year round. This technology keeps temperature fluctuations to a minimum and ensures heat output matches the heating load of the property. Room temperatures are controlled effortlessly and efficiently with an intuitive, top of the range, intelligent heating control.

Minister Denis Naughten.

The system controller automatically runs the entire heating system and balances demand between the heat pump and boiler in colder climates and also has a built in weather compensation control facility.

Firebird Heating Solutions specialise in providing a total heating package solution. The comprehensive product range includes oil fired boilers, solar thermal systems, stoves, range cookers and biomass boilers. For further information on the Enviroair hybrid range or other products in the range please visit www.firebird.ie or contact Firebird Heating Solutions: FirebirdĘźs new Enviroair Hybrid Heat Pump was recently launched by Minister Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, when he visited the factory in the Gaeltacht in Co. Cork.

Tel: 026 45253 Email: info@firebird.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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EPA Drinking Water Report 2016 Treatment needed for 25 supplies at risk of contamination with Cryptosporidium says EPA • Monitoring of public drinking water in Ireland shows that: • 99.9% of samples comply with the microbiological standards • 99.5% of samples comply with the chemical standards • 41 Boil Water Notices were put in place during 2016, affecting more than 84,000 people.

• There are 87 “at risk” supplies on the EPA Remedial Action List: • 58 of these supplies have elevated levels of Trihalomethanes • 25 of these supplies lack adequate treatment to prevent Cryptosporidium entering the water supply.

The EPA Drinking Water Report 2016, released today, shows that the quality of drinking water in public supplies remains high though further improvements are necessary to improve the security of supplies and avoid water restrictions, including Boil Water Notices. Drinking water testing throughout 2016 confirmed a very high level of compliance with microbiological and chemical standards, indicating that the majority of our water supplies are safe.

Commenting on the report, Mr Gerard OʼLeary, Director of the EPAʼs Office of Environmental Enforcement said, “While the removal of long-term boil water notices in supplies like the Whitegate Regional Supply in Cork and Loughrea public water supply in Galway in 2016 was welcome, there remains over 3,600 people on a Boil Water Notice today. The EPA has identified supplies serving over 700,000 consumers where improvements to water treatment infrastructure are necessary to meet public health standards.”

Kerry, Cork and Donegal account for almost half of the “at risk” supplies identified by the EPA. The report states that action programme dates set out by Irish Water to improve 24 “at risk” supplies have slipped.

Darragh Page, Senior Drinking Water Inspector, Office of Environmental Enforcement, commenting on threats to drinking water quality such as Cryptosporidium, E. coli and Trihalomethanes (THMs)said, “While the incidence of E. coli in public water supplies continues to decrease, the current challenge is to reduce the levels of other pollutants in public water supplies across the country, particularly THM, and pesticides. The number of supplies reporting THM failures remains high, and a consistent national approach must be adopted to ensure that pesticides are prevented from entering our drinking water sources. We have also identified 25 supplies that require adequate treatment to prevent Cryptosporidium entering the water supply.”

The EPA Drinking Water Report 2016 as well as the complete list of public water supplies currently on the Remedial Action List (RAL) – including details of the proposed remedial measures and associated timeframes – is available on the EPA website.

Further information: Niamh Hatchell/ Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie

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New €2.9m EU project will boost energy efficiency and cut water costs Engineers and business experts from Trinity College Dublin are the technical leaders in a new €2.9m EUbacked project that will lighten the load on stressed water networks and reduce associated negative impacts on the environment. The project will also lessen operational costs for companies and bring down water bills for the public.

The water services industry is the fourth-most energy intensive sector in the EU, and is responsible for considerable contributions to climate change via CO2 emissions.

Significant potential currently exists to save energy, reduce costs and minimise environmental impacts in European water networks by improving the energy efficiency of water suppliers and users in the region.

REDAWN will develop both the technology and policy to realise this potential, and generate understanding to help overcome any technological, institutional and social barriers to exploitation.

The project aims to develop an adequate institutional, social and technological environment to foster greater resource efficiency in water networks including irrigation, public water supply, waste and storm water, and process industry. It will adopt next-gen micro-hydropower energy recovery technology in built water networks in the Atlantic Area, including in Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

Associate Professor in Energy and the Environment in the School of Engineering at Trinity, Dr Aonghus McNabola, will be the technical lead of this multidisciplinary project, with the assistance of Professor in Operations Management in the Trinity Business School, Paul Coughlan, and Assistant Professor, John Gallagher from the School of Engineering.

Dr McNabola said: “The water industry in Europe contributes significantly to energy consumption and CO2 emissions, which in turn impact negatively on the environment and the economy. European business competitiveness is impacted by the operational costs of water services, and so too are the general man and woman in the street, who pay for associated services.”

“The REDAWN project will make significant advances in improving energy efficiency in this sector and it will have positive environmental and economic impacts. The research team is very excited to have received this funding and is looking forward to working on this project in the coming years.”

Developed by Trinity in partnership with Action Renewables Ltd, University of Naples Federico II (Professor Armando Carravetta), IST Lisbon, Hidropower Ltd, FAEN, Feragua, the WATEF Network, SMPGA, and the University of Cordoba, REDAWN will run for three years with support from the EUʼs Atlantic Area co-operation programme 2014-2020.

Professor Paul Coughlan said: “The nature of the challenge requires an integrative response that crosses many boundaries and borders – discipline, practice, industry and national. REDAWN is set up to enable the engineering, environmental science and business researchers to interact directly with practitioners from European industry. Together, these partners are committed to bringing their established expertise to the table and open to learning with, through and from each other.”

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A greater focus on protecting our most pristine water environments is needed, says EPA he EPA has released its latest national assessment of water quality in Ireland. The release coincides with World Water Week, which links scientific understanding with policymaking and positive action toward water-related challenges.

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The EPA assessment covers the 6-year period between 2010 and 2015 and is the first full, 6-year, assessment of the status of our waters under the Water Framework Directive. The assessment concludes that while there has been little overall change in water quality in the six years up to the end of 2015, there has been: • a failure to meet the planned national target of 13 per cent improvement in water status for the six-year period; • a failure to prevent deterioration of water status at hundreds of water bodies around the country, which cancels out the improvements in water status at a similar number of water bodies in other parts of the country; • welcome progress relating to a continued reduction in the level of seriously polluted waters - only six river water bodies were categorised as “Bad” in 2010–2015 compared to 19 in 2007–2009 - and • a continued and unwelcome decline in the number of our pristine rivers - only 21 sites achieved the highest quality rating from 2013-2015 compared to over 500 sites in the late 1980s.

Commenting on the assessment, Dr Matt Crowe, Director of the EPAʼs Office of Evidence and Assessment said: "We are fortunate in Ireland to have so many beautiful beaches, rivers, lakes, estuaries and canals.

Water is part of what we are as an island people and there are few of us who do not have a personal connection to water - be it our favourite beach, river or lake, the well that supplies our family with drinking water or our favourite spot for a bit of fishing or a quiet walk.

“Clean and well protected water is also a key national asset and supports many important economic activities such as agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. We must do a lot more and work much harder at protecting this vital national asset.”

Overall, 91 per cent of groundwater bodies, 57 per cent of rivers, 46 per cent of lakes, 31 per cent of estuaries and 79 per cent of coastal waters were found to be of good quality under the Water Framework Directive. The Water Framework Directive, other than in exceptional circumstances, requires good water status for all water bodies.

Addressing the main findings of the assessment, Dr Crowe said: “The good news is that we have almost eliminated the worst of the worst of polluted sites. Only six river water bodies were categorised asʼ badʼ in this assessment compared with 19 for the 2007-2009 period. The bad news is that the decline in our most pristine waters, the best of the best, has continued. We now need to put the necessary measures and resources in place to arrest any further deterioration of water status and to make necessary improvements.

"Decisions about what to do and who should do it and pay for it need to be based on scientific evidence and requires constructive engagement and collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders. By doing this, the right action can be taken in the right place by the right people and organisations.”

Mr. Andy Fanning, Programme Manager for the EPAʼs Office of Evidence and Assessment said: “While the national picture is relatively stable, some water bodies have improved, while others have deteriorated, which highlights that not enough has been done to prevent deterioration of water quality.

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"The EPA is assessing the significant pressures that are contributing to waters being in unsatisfactory condition or being at risk of deteriorating. The initial outcomes of this assessment were included in the draft River Basin Management Plan and provide the scientific basis for measures that will be prioritised in the final River Basin Management Plan that is due for publication at the end of 2017.”

The assessment is available on the EPA website and the accompanying data used in the water quality assessments are available on www.catchments.ie. More recent localised information on water quality is available on-line through www.epa.ie and www.catchments.ie Notes: Water Quality in Ireland Reports: The EPA has produced a number of periodic Water Quality in Ireland Reports on a three yearly cycle, all of which are available on the EPA website.

Main causes of pollution: The assessment shows that elevated levels of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) in waters, causing excessive growth of plants, continues to be the most widespread water quality problem in Ireland. Nutrient losses from agriculture and domestic wastewater discharges are the primary reasons why the water quality objectives of the Water Framework Directive are not being met.

In relation to agriculture, the pressures relate to diffuse nutrient run-off, sediment from land and point sources associated with farmyards.

For wastewater, the main pressure is from urban wastewater discharges, but private wastewater discharges - for example, septic tanks - and diffuse urban discharges, which include losses from urban wastewater misconnections, are also significant contributors.

For further information see the Executive Summary or the water quality assessments on www.catchments.ie National River Basin Management Plan: Further information about the National River Basin Management Plan is available on the Department of Housing, Planning, Communities and Local Government website. www.catchments.ie: A collaborative EPA, Local Authority Waters and Communities Office and Department of Housing, Planning, Communities and Local Government website that is used to share information and resources on water in Ireland. It includes water quality assessments undertaken by the EPA for the Water Framework Directive.

Water Framework Directive: The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the primary Directive that sets out water quality objectives and common metrics for assessing and reporting on the quality of freshwater in Europe. These assessments are undertaken on a six-yearly cycle, with the outcomes reported by each country in their respective River Basin Management Plans.

Significant pressures: Activities, such as wastewater discharges, industrial discharges or agriculture, that are identified as being significant contributors to surface water or groundwater bodies failing to meet their WFD objectives.

“Bad” category: The WFD category that indicates the worst surface water quality, which are regarded as being seriously polluted.

“Pristine” waters: The best quality waters are assigned a high status WFD category, and a portion of these high status water bodies are defined as being pristine. Sometimes they are also referred to as “Q5” sites (achieving an ecological quality score of 5/5) or reference condition sites, and they are regarded as being largely un-impacted by human activities.

“Unpolluted” rivers: Includes those rivers assessed as being at high ecological status (an ecological quality score of Q5/5 or Q4.5/5) or good ecological status (an ecological quality score Q4/5).

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Birdhill, Co Tipperary is Irelandʼs Tidiest Town for 2017. irdhill was today (25th September) named best of a record 870 towns and villages throughout the country that entered this yearʼs SuperValu National TidyTowns competition. The announcement was greeted with great celebration at todayʼs awards ceremony at The Helix in Dublin.

B

On hand to present the prizes was Mr. Michael Ring, T.D., Minister for Rural and Community Development and Mr. Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, the competitionʼs sponsor for the 26th year. The Helix was packed with representatives of TidyTowns groups from all over the country, eagerly anticipating the announcement of the winners.

Birdhill Co. Tipperary also claimed the award of Irelandʼs Tidiest Village. Other winners included Clonakilty, Co Cork which received the award for Irelandʼs Tidiest Small Town.Westport, Co Mayo, received the award of Irelandʼs Tidiest Large Town, while Ennis Co Clare was again declared Irelandʼs Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, Minister Ring said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Birdhill; a really worthy winner. Three other Tipperary villages have won this award, but it is the first time for Birdhill. The village has consistently entered the competition since 1991 and in the intervening years have steadily concentrated on all aspects of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition and today, all that effort has paid off.

TidyTowns is an excellent example of community volunteering and building strong links which enables citizens to have a say in how their community develops. The competition epitomises what my Department was created to do – to focus on developing vibrant and sustainable communities, in both urban and rural areas. My congratulations today go to Birdhill and all of the other deserving prize-winners announced today. The enthusiasm of all those involved in the TidyTowns effort results in the attractive, well cared-for towns and villages we see throughout the country.”

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The Minister continued: “TidyTowns is one of the most recognisable environmental initiatives in Ireland, but it also encompasses a way of life here in Ireland, where we show respect for our neighbours and for nature. It is clear that working together and getting things done increases peoplesʼ pride in where they live and helps to build vibrant communities. That is why I am delighted to see this competition continues to attract great interest after almost 60 years.”

The Minister also thanked SuperValu, the competitionʼs sponsor. He said: “I was delighted to announce last December that SuperValu were successful in their bid to sponsor TidyTowns to 2021. I want to thank SuperValu for the fantastic support they have shown over the last 26 years, not only through their financial sponsorship, but also through the support provided to TidyTowns groups by their network of local retailers. SuperValu has been integral to sustaining and developing the competition, and I know that they will continue to support the Department as the competition celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2018.”

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu said: “In this, our 26th year as title sponsor of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, we are incredibly proud of our long-standing involvement with this important community initiative. We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to build on our successful partnership through a renewed five-year sponsorship agreement that will ensure we continue to strengthen the profile of the competition as Irelandʼs leading community initiative.

“SuperValu TidyTowns is a unique initiative that highlights the power of local as communities come together to improve their towns and villages across the country. The committee volunteers are the true heroes of a competition that will celebrate a remarkable 60 years next year.

“As Irelandʼs leading retailer, with locally-owned stores in every county across Ireland, SuperValu retailers are an integral part of their local communities. Through the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, our retailers bring the SuperValu ethos of building vibrant local communities to life every day. The competition is one of many initiatives that allows them to give back to their communities and to support local.

“I am delighted to congratulate the 2017 SuperValu TidyTowns competition winners and to recognise the hard work and dedication of all the TidyTowns committees across Ireland. In particular, I would like to congratulate participants for their creativity and commitment to ʻupcyclingʼ initiatives as part of this yearʼs competition.

SuperValu is focused on fostering sustainable communities and the addition of the ʻUpcycling Challengeʼ to the competition is a great step in that direction – intended to highlight the opportunity for TidyTowns committees to lead the way in enhancing the sustainability of local towns and villages. This will benefit the communities we serve and in turn will have a long-term positive impact on the planet.”

Interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition has been consistently high in recent times with a record 870 entries this year.

The TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and sponsored by SuperValu who have sponsored the competition since 1992.

Full details of all this yearʼs winners are available at www.tidytowns.ie and at www.supervalu.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Countr y recor ds best ever showing in IBAL litter sur vey • 80% of towns and cities as clean as European counterparts • “absence of community involvement” explains ongoing litter problem in disadvantaged areas The latest survey by business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) shows improvements in cleanliness across the country over the past year. Over 90% of rural towns surveyed were deemed clean, while Dublin, Cork and Galway city centres all scored well in the ranking of 40 areas. IBAL says a lack of community involvement explains why certain disadvantaged urban areas continue to be plagued by litter despite improvements elsewhere.

An Taisce assess litter levels in 40 towns and cities on behalf of IBAL. 80% of areas were found to be clean, with a top tier of 16 towns deemed “cleaner than European Norms”. Tullamore topped the rankings, followed by Dublin Airport Environs and Leixlip. Once again there was a wide gap between towns and disadvantaged city areas, with the latter occupying the bottom 6 places in the ranking.

“In the 16 years we have been conducting these surveys, this is possibly our best result,” says Conor Horgan of IBAL. “Across the board we have seen improvements. The news is all the more positive given the importance of how we present our country over the summer months, when we attract over 40% of our visitors. Also satisfying is the pristine state of the roads around Dublin Airport, which help form a first impression for many of these visitors.”

The Airport environs were deemed a “Litter blackspot” when first surveyed 5 years ago.

Tullamore was praised by the inspectors for having “so many top-ranking sites” among them, Lloyd Town Park, “spotless” OʼConnor Tullamore Stadium and Patrick Street “looking very well with so much colourful planting in the form of hanging baskets, ornamental trees and large planter boxes.” All the approach roads were also top ranking.

While no area was brandished a “litter blackspot”, Galvone in Limerick City was again seriously littered, while Dublin North Inner City and Cork City North were littered. “We havenʼt seen as much improvement in these social housing areas, where communities are often transient, social neglect is evident, and community groups and tidy towns committees are lacking compared to in mixed communities,” says Conor Horgan. “Without these volunteer forces supporting the efforts of the council, these areas will simply not be clean on a sustained basis.”

Despite improvements in Dublinʼs North Inner City, the inspectors highlighted a “dumping ground” near Sheriff St Park, rubbish along the canal pathway at Guild St and several sites suffering from “long-term abuse and neglect” rather than just casual litter. In Galvone in Limerick, the rear of the industrial estate was a litter blackspot, and there were large accumulations of litter at the Irish Rail site near Kennedy Park, as well as at the recycle facility at Roxboro Shopping Centre, which was in “a terrible state”. The surveyors expressed disappointment that “littered sites which were previously highlighted have not been cleaned up.”

“Dumping is the new litter” “Be it in cities or in towns, we enjoy a much cleaner environment than 15 years ago, but litter has not gone away,“ warns Conor Horgan. “This summer we again had examples of extreme littering on beaches for

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examples, which display a worrying indifference to the natural environment. Marine litter is a source of great concern at present and an issue IBAL may concentrate more on in the future.”

“Also, dumping is on the increase, and the more we ask people to pay for waste disposal the greater an issue it is likely to become. It may not be as widespread, but dumping is the new litter in many respects.”

The business group concurs with the “polluter pays” principle behind the mandatory pay-by-weight collection system, but believes some of the monies raised should be ringfenced for councils to tackle the increased dumping that will result from people looking to evade the charges.

85% of 32 tourist sites surveyed were clean, among them the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, Muckross House in Killarney, Guinness Storehouse and Newgrange, with the remainder exhibiting small amounts of litter.

For further information contact Conor Horgan on 086 8217211 or 086 387 4217, cmjhorgan@gmail.com As part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League, An Taisce monitors towns independently and in accordance with international grading standards.

Visit www.ibal.ie for further information.

2017 IBAL ANTI-LITTER LEAGUE – 1st ROUND RESULT 1 2 T3 T3 5 T6 T6 8 9 10 T11 T11 13 14 15 16 17 18 T19 T19 T19 22 23 24 25 T26 T26 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Tullamore Dublin Airport Environs Leixlip Roscommon Longford Clonmel Ennis Killarney Kildare Ballybeg (Waterford City) Navan Waterford City Balbriggan Drogheda Kilkenny Thomondgate (Limerick City) Athlone Carlow Mallow Monaghan Portlaoise Tallaght Cork City Centre Ballybane (Galway City) Letterkenny Wexford Galway City Dublin City Centre Cavan Dundalk Sligo Bray Tralee Castlebar Ballymun Mahon (Cork City) Limerick City Cork North City Dublin North Inner City Galvone (Limerick City)

Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Cleaner than European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Clean to European Norms Moderately littered Moderately littered Moderately littered Moderately littered Moderately littered Littered Littered Seriously littered

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Concrete Ticket Course Update In February 2017 the Concrete Ticket was formally launched by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Damien English TD. This major new education initiative by the Irish Concrete Society is a half-day course providing guidance on the correct handling, finishing, curing and ordering of concrete for construction. The course is suitable for those who are involved and responsible for the receiving, transporting, placing and finishing concrete after its arrival on site.

Over 200 people have now taken the course, passed the test and are now eligible to hold a Concrete Ticket that will be valid for five years. There is a fast growing demand for places on the courses, which are being delivered nationally. Bookings can made individually through the website or as part of a group of 15 or more on a date and location that suits.

Current course listings: Location

Date / Time

Venue

Cork SOLD OUT

10th of October@ 8:30 a.m.

Radisson Blu, Little Island

Monaghan

24th of October @ 8:30 a.m.

Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney

Dublin

7th of November @ 8:30 a.m.

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel

Cork

28th November @8:30am

Radisson Blu, Little Island

Delegates at a recent course

More information and booking details may be obtained from the dedicated booking website: www.concreteticket.ie.

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Upgrade to the Portarlington Wastewater Treatment Plant completed

I

rish Water was joined by the Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Councillor Padraig Fleming to officially mark the opening of the newly upgraded Portarlington Wastewater Treatment Plant. The â&#x201A;Ź1.96 million investment in upgrades to the Treatment Plant has significantly improved its performance, benefitting local residents and the surrounding environment and ensuring compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the Environmental Protection Agency discharge licence.

works will ensure that treated effluent meets effluent compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations and the EPA Waste Water Discharge Licence. The Portarlington Wastewater Treatment Plant is listed in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) infringement notice. Prior to the upgrade, the plant was non-compliant with Article 4 (Treatment).

The plant was constructed in 1986 with a design capacity of 8,000 PE. In 2009, a short term solution increased the capacity by 5,000 PE to 13,000 PE.

Paul Fallon Wastewater Infrastructure Programme Manager, Irish Water along with Cathaoirleach of Laois Co.Co, Cllr. Padraig Fleming check out samples of wastewater before and after treatment at the official opening of the recently upgraded Portarlington WWTP. The upgrade works were carried out over 8 months and included, installation of standby screen and grit removal system, replacement the surface aerators with fine bubble diffused aeration, upgrades to telemetry monitoring, upgrades to the sludge thickening system and access road. The upgrade

The effluent from the WWTP is discharged to the River Barrow which is located in an area designated as a Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). It was vital that the plant was upgraded to ensure the discharges did not have a negative impact on this important river.

Commenting on the project Paul Fallon, Wastewater Infrastructure Programme Manager with Irish Water said â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are delighted today to officially mark the opening of the newly upgraded Portarlington Wastewater Treatment Plant. Investment in the Portarlington Wastewater Treatment plant has

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increased the efficiency of the plant. This investment will benefit the environment as the plant is now compliant and discharges into the River Barrow are compliant with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations and the EPA Waste Water Discharge Licence. This investment will support economic development in Portarlington for years to come.”

From 2016 – 2021, the remaining period of the Irish Water Business Plan, the utility is ramping up investment to spend an average of €326m per year on wastewater infrastructure. The investment in the Portarlington Wastewater Treatment Plant is part of this investment programme.

Irish Water collects wastewater from over 1,000 separate communities connected to the wastewater network and treats around 1,600 million litres of wastewater daily before discharging it back into our rivers, harbours and coastal areas. By 2021, as outlined in the Irish Water Business Plan, we plan to have all discharges to our rivers and seas treated before being released. Our programme of work will include, not only improving capacity to ensure Irish Water can facilitate the growth of the new homes and industry but also protecting our coasts, which has a huge impact on tourism and local businesses.

Speaking at the event, Cllr. Padraig Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said, ʻWastewater infrastructure that is of the required standard is of vital importance to the town of Portarlington. This investment by Irish Water, in partnership with Laois County Council, means our wastewater infrastructure is compliant with both national and European standards and can support continued growth in Portarlington.'

Investing in Irelandʼs wastewater infrastructure is a key priority for Irish Water. Between 2014 and 2015, Irish Water invested €166m in Irelandʼs wastewater infrastructure, an increase of 22% from 2011 to 2013.

The replacement of 25km of water mains across County Meath due to commence in October quality. It will also improve water pressure as leakage on these sections of the water mains will be reduced.

Upon completion, there will be significant improvements in network performance and levels of customer service in terms of efficiency and security of supply.

Project will provide a more reliable water supply for customers Irish Water is working in partnership with Meath County Council to replace approximately 25km of ageing water mains across 16 locations in County Meath. The project will replace ageing water mains in Kells, Oldcastle, Athboy, Piercetown, Navan, Slane, Trim, Gaulstown, Ratoath, Sutherland Lane, M1 Crossing at Platin, Mornington, Rathmullen, Laytown, Duleek and Dunboyne. Work on the project is due to commence in October 2017 and is expected to last for approximately 18 months. The works will be carried out by Shareridge Limited on behalf of Irish Water.

The proposed works will be carried out in short sections to minimise impact on residents, businesses and road users. The works will involve some shortterm water shut offs for a number of hours over a day or two in each location when the new pipes are being connected to the existing pipework system. The project team will ensure that householders and businesses are advised of any works in their area in advance and will be given 48 hours prior notice of water shut offs. Residents and businesses in the affected areas will be notified ahead of the works commencing and provided with contact details should they have any queries.

Commenting on the project, William McKnight, Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead at Irish Water, said “This project will provide a more reliable water supply across County Meath. Ageing water mains are prone to frequent bursts and reduced water pressure to homes and businesses. Investing in our water networks will secure the supply for customers and support future economic development across the county.”

This project involves the replacement of ageing water mains with new heavy duty polyethylene (HDPE) and ductile iron pipes across the 16 locations. Once complete the new water mains will provide a more reliable water supply by reducing the frequency of disruptions caused by bursts and improving water

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New Water Supply Scheme for Ring Helvick, Co. Waterford progressing Order (CPO) for the acquisition of lands and wayleaves needed for the construction of a new pipeline from Dungarvan, two new storage reservoirs and associated works.

Scheme will ensure safe and secure drinking water for community Irish Water is working in partnership with Waterford City & County Council to deliver a new Water Supply Scheme for the Ring Helvick area of Co. Waterford.

This will ensure a safe and secure drinking water supply for local residents while also facilitating the removal of the scheme from the EPAʼs Remedial Action List (RAL).

Commenting on the project, Irish Waterʼs Regional Infrastructure Lead, Lisa Cogan said “We are pleased to be progressing this essential project to ensure a safe and reliable supply of drinking water to the people of the Ring Helvick area. This scheme has been designed to ensure that the infrastructure has sufficient capacity to meet long-term demands and that there is sufficient storage within the water supply network. Providing a new water supply will also facilitate the removal of almost 900 customers from the Remedial Action List and ensure a sustainable supply of quality drinking water now and into the future.”

The Ring Helvick area is currently served by four water supply schemes. This presents various deficiencies including insufficient water storage capacities, risk of contamination and inadequate water treatment. Elevated levels of Trihalomethanes (THMs) have also been recorded in the treated drinking water supplied into the Ring Helvick Scheme.

Integrating these existing schemes into a single scheme supplied from a safe and reliable source – the existing Ballynamuck wellfield in Dungarvan – will ensure that local residents have access to safe and reliable drinking water that is compliant with all drinking water regulations.

Irish Water will be submitting a Compulsory Purchase

Landowners and occupiers included in the CPO will receive individual written notices and there will be a period of public display and consideration. The procurement process for the selection of a contractor will then proceed in parallel with the CPO process.

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M inister Murphy approves funding of €12million under the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme Eoghan Murphy T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, has approved funding of €12million for the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme.

The scheme also provides funding for Improvement Works in Lieu in order to improve or extend privately owned accommodation where the occupant is already approved for social housing, reducing the strain on current social housing stock.

In welcoming the efforts being made by Local Authorities to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities and those affected by over-crowding, Minister Murphy stated, “this will greatly improve the housing conditions for those living with disabilities and addresses issues of overcrowding in existing social housing stock, while Improvement Works in Lieu provide an alternative to social housing for approved social housing applicants currently in private accommodation.”

The Minister added, “I am very pleased today to allocate funding of €12million under this scheme. I will continue to keep the scheme under review and will consider providing further funding later in the year if the need arises.”

The Disabled Persons Grant Scheme provides funding for extensions and adaptations to existing social housing stock such as grab rails, disabled access ramps, wet rooms, etc. The scheme also provides extensions in cases of overcrowding.

In order to ensure that work by Local Authorities on housing adaptations and extensions on local authority stock could continue uninterrupted in 2017, all Local Authorities were informed earlier in the year that they could undertake works up to a maximum value of 65% of their 2016 allocation in advance of specific approval of the 2017 allocation. This allowed them to plan and progress works under the scheme over the full year and will facilitate the full utilisation of their 2017 allocations

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2017 Disabled Personʼs Grants – Final Allocations Local Authority Contribution Department Contribution 90%

Local Authority € Carlow County Council Cavan County Council Clare County Council Cork City Council Cork County Donegal County Council Dublin City Council Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council Fingal County Council Galway City Galway County Council Kerry County Council Kildare County Council Kilkenny County Council Laois County Council Leitrim County Council Limerick City and County Council Longford County Council Louth County Council Mayo County Council Meath County Council Monaghan County Council Offaly County Council Roscommon County Council Sligo County Council South Dublin County Council Tipperary County Council Waterford City and County Council Westmeath County Council Wexford County Council Wicklow County Council Total

265,707 318,338 274,702 613,296 811,365 304,047 1,405,175 327,488 374,218 271,108 313,776 255,299 394,879 304,047 218,405 207,992 567,547 244,317 453,985 261,011 385,664 158,269 280,519 141,671 376,212 533,685 411,695 285,756 242,884 354,467 642,476 12,000,000 LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Total

10%

(Department and LA contribution)

€

€

29,523 35,371 30,522 68,144 90,152 33,783 156,131 36,388 41,580 30,123 34,864 28,367 43,875 33,783 24,267 23,110 63,061 27,146 50,443 29,001 42,852 17,585 31,169 15,741 41,801 59,298 45,744 31,751 26,987 39,385 71,386 1,333,333

295,230 353,709 305,224 681,440 901,517 337,830 1,561,306 363,876 415,798 301,231 348,640 283,666 438,754 337,830 242,672 231,102 630,608 271,463 504,428 290,012 428,516 175,854 311,688 157,412 418,013 592,983 457,439 317,507 269,871 393,852 713,862 13,333,333

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Minister Murphy Announces Housing Budget accommodation are expected through the provision • €1.9billion - 46% increase in housing budget for of social homes and the Housing Assistance 2018 Payment.

• Housing needs of 25,500 families to be met in 2018 • €500million extra to support new target of 50,000 • Arising from the roll out of the Family Hub programme, which were allocated €45 million in homes for those on social housing waiting lists 2017, the additional €18 million which is provided in • Targeting 3,000 exits from homelessness in 2018 2018, will support the wrap around and running • Range of measures on vacancy including increase costs of the Hubs. in Vacant Site Levy.

• €75m for new affordable housing initiatives Affordability • The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund Housing Delivery will be supported by an allocation of €60 million in • In Budget 2018, the total funding provision of €1.9 2018. The Fund will provide enabling infrastructure billion is an increase of 46% over 2017 and it will on key sites to open up lands for early development allow us to meet the social housing needs of 25,500 and has the potential to release the delivery of at households. A large element – €1.14 billion – is for least 20,000 new homes by 2021. At least 10% (or the delivery of almost 5,900 social homes through a 2,000) of these new homes will be social housing range of construction (5,000) and acquisition (900) (through Part V) with additional social housing to be programmes. provided on certain State-owned sites. The majority • The balance of the funding will add additional of the 34 sites being opened up will have a tenancies – and maintain existing ones - through proportion of housing available at under €320,000 HAP, RAS and long-term leasing. It will also fund and bespoke arrangements on affordability are other important housing supports and services in being reached in relation to the remaining sites to relation to homelessness, regeneration and ensure a proportionate dividend for the public programmes to upgrade existing housing (energy investment being made; efficiency improvements, adaptation grants, housing • A second LIHAF infrastructure fund of €50m will for Travellers, pyrite, etc). unlock even more sites, more quickly, and at • An allocation of €301 million (+€149m on 2017) for affordable prices. Through a second tranche as well the Housing Assistance Payment which will enable as targeting funding towards servicing local a further 17,000 households to be accommodated, authorities sites that can be offered at nominal as well as support the 32,000 existing HAP prices to AHBs to provide affordable housing are tenancies. both clear examples of the Governmentʼs focus on • Funding of €134 million will support a further 600 bridging the affordability gap for those that do not new transfers under the Rental Accommodation qualify for social housing supports but who are Scheme and also the ongoing cost of 19,900 under pressure to find homes to rent or buy at their households supported under the scheme; current income levels.

• The following is a breakdown of Social Housing • In addition, €25 million is to be provided (€15m in Targets for 2018.

2018) to provide infrastructure and services (e.g.

• Delivery Method • 2018 Targets roads and paths, water connection, street lighting • Build • 4,969 etc) on local authority-owned sites in Dublin to • Acquisitions • 900 facilitate the delivery of affordable housing to help households facing the greatest challenge with • Long Term Leasing • 2,000 affordability and to create mixed tenure • RAS & HAP • 17,600 communities; • Total • 25,469 • Home Building Finance Ireland will provide finance at commercially competitive rates to developers with Addressing Homelessness sites ready to go but who are experiencing difficulty • In relation to services for homelessness, an in obtaining funding allocation of €116 million (+€18m on 2017) for • Last week Minister Murphy announced a move to Homelessness will address that the increased new planning guidelines to allow for more affordable demand for emergency homeless services and will apartment development for our city centres, like the assist in supporting homeless households with longremoval of the car parking space requirement, a term and sustainable housing solutions. significant cost.

• In 2018, more than 3,000 exits from emergency

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• €22 million (+€5m on 2017) will support the expansion of the Mortgage to Rent Scheme and will allow for a further 250 transactions under the AHB scheme; • Exchequer funding for housing adaptation grants will be increased to €53 million (+€5 million on 2017). This will enable up to 11,000 home adaptations to be undertaken facilitating people with disabilities and older people to continue to live in their own homes;

Vacancy and Urban Renewal • Linked to the priority to bring vacant homes and derelict/under-used premises back into use, particularly in the centres of our cities and larger towns, a multi-annual urban renewal fund is being created, on a competitive bid basis with local authority contributions, to act as a catalyst, for local authorities, in partnership with other State organisations, local communities and the private sector.

This programme will identify projects/initiatives to regenerate and revitalise depopulated urban areas and facilitate more compact and community-focused growth, as highlighted in the draft National Planning Framework.

• With €50m allocated over the four years to 2021 (€10m in 2018), and taking account of an additional minimum 20% contribution from LAs, the funding will be targeted at a number of local authority-led projects which will deliver on a number of key policies such as facilitating homes in existing buildings, in renovating derelict properties and improving the public realm through enhanced community amenities and services.

• Funding of €32 million has been earmarked in 2018 for the Repair and Leasing Scheme, with the potential to deliver 800 vacant properties for social housing; Under the Buy and Renew and Repair and Lease Schemes, as well as the broader acquisitions programme being managed by the Housing Agency, we have funding available to see over 1,000 vacant homes being occupied by social housing recipients, as well as encouraging vacant property owners to renovate their properties for rental use, through for example HAP tenancies.

• The vacant site levy will double to 7%. The 3% levy becomes a liability this January. If land owners on the register fail to build next year, then on 1 January 2019, their liability from that point on will increase to 7%. If they continue to hoard that land through 2019, then they will end up with an effective liability of 10% over 2018 and 2019 combined.

The National Regeneration programme will be supported through funding of €61 million (+€5m on 2017) targeting some of the countryʼs most disadvantaged communities; • Funding of €7.2 million (+€2m on 2017) will support the operational costs of the Housing Agency during 2018 and will ensure that the Agency is resourced to carry out its commitments under the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

• Very importantly, the Residential Tenancies Board will be supported through a provision of €7 million in 2018 (+€5m on 2017). The increased funding reflects the expanded role of the agency and commitments under the Strategy for the Rental Sector, including increased rented accommodation inspections, which will ultimately facilitate a targeted annual inspection level of 25% of rented units by 2021, meaning all rental properties should be inspected once every 4 years.

Water Services • €170m is being provided in 2018.

• €20m is being provided for the Rural Water Programme, which provides for increased investment in the rural water sector.

• Funding is provided for the revenue shortfall from the suspension/abolition of domestic water charges. €114m of this cost is being provided in 2017 and 2018 through the Departmentʼs Vote with the balance already reflected in the subvention provided through the Local Government Fund (some €239m is required on an annual basis to meet the abolition of water charges).

• Funding is also provided to support initiatives on environmental and public health compliance in the water sector

Other important housing delivery and supports • Other important housing delivery and supports that will be funded through the increased resources under Budget 2018 include: • Funding of €12 million (+€3m on 2017) will support a range of Traveller specific accommodation schemes and deliver 110 homes in 2018; • €30 million (+€8m on 2017) will fund the remediation of a further 430 houses affected by pyrite; • A further 9,000 social homes will be improved through the energy efficiency programme in 2018 through funding of €25 million (+€3m on 2017);

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Murphy announces further grant allocations of some €3.7m under the 2017 Rural Water Programme, bringing the total planned investment in the rural water sector to over €15m in 2017 The Minister added that, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government intends to shortly commence a review to quantify what additional investment is required to equalise treatment between those using public water services and those who do not (i.e. those in group water schemes, with private wells and using septic tanks) as recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services.

This will include engagement with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, and other stakeholders.

r Eoghan Murphy, T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has announced the further 2017 grant allocations to local authorities for group water and group sewerage schemes, providing an additional €3.676m under the 2017 Rural Water Programme over the interim allocations of €11.696 already announced in June.

M

The allocations to local authorities, which amount to over €15.372 million, are provided under his Departmentʼs Rural Water Programme. The funding is aimed primarily towards the improvement of water quality in existing group water schemes, the upgrading and water conservation works in group water scheme distribution networks, take-over of group water schemes by Irish Water where it is the most sustainable long-term solution and the scheme has agreed to do so, and new group water schemes – such new schemes enable rural households, to have a supply of good quality piped water for the first time. Funding is also being provided towards group sewerage schemes.

The Minister reaffirmed that “The Group Water sector continues, over many years, to be a champion for investment in water services, for water conservation, for emphasising the importance of water as a resource. Sustained investment in the Group Water sector continues to be a priority for Government. We recognise that throughout the length and breadth of rural Ireland rural life needs infrastructural investment in key services – not least in water services. High quality sustainable water services are a fundamental necessity to peopleʼs lives and do not distinguish between rural or urban and this is why the Government continues to prioritise funding in the group water sector in parallel with the overall funding for water services generally.”

The 2017 allocation of over €15.372 million represents an increase of nearly 46.4% on the 2016 expenditure of just under €10.5 million on group water and sewerage schemes to fund continued improvement works in the group water sector.

The Minister concluded, “The Government remains committed to the continued support of the Group Water sector as an important element of the water industry in Ireland, founded on co-operative community and voluntary engagement, and to investment in the sector to sustain and improve quality standards and performance".

This year is the second year of the Departmentʼs new approach - the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018 – for funding the rural water sector. The purpose of the new multi-annual programme, with its more scheme-based or project-based approach, is to provide enhanced funding certainty for priority investment needs in the sector. This year continues the transition to the new funding approach commenced in 2016. Responsibility for the administration of the programme is largely devolved to the local authorities.

Breakdown of 2017 Allocations by Local Authority under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2016–2018 Local Authority

The Department was assisted again this year by an Expert Panel convened to examine the proposals from local authorities and make recommendations for funding.

Carlow Cavan Clare Cork Donegal Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford

The Minister said "I wish to thank the Expert Panel for their work and I accept their recommendations in full in making the rural water allocations this year. My Departmentʼs new rolling multi-annual funding programme introduced last year moves away from an annual block grant approach and provides certainty to the sector on funding of projects.”

2017 Allocation €

Local Authority

75,000 421,267 399,196 397,080 475,350 1,102,292 1,004,000 244,490 302,000 516,145 110,000 361,430 80,500

Louth 263,750 Mayo 6,812,110 Meath 191,888 Monaghan 360,910 Offaly 689,900 Roscommon 467,295 Sligo 127,348 Tipperary 415,390 Waterford 179,000 Westmeath 144,116 Wexford 150,000 Wicklow 82,085 Totals

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2017 Allocation €

15,372,542

LAN 36 No 4 _Layout 1 13/10/2017 08:12 Page 35

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FRONT COVER LAN 36 No 4 13/10/2017 18:39 Page 3

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