Results 15,541-15,560 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473 and 474 together. As noted in the Programme for Government Annual Report 2016, over 13,000 units were delivered across all social housing programmes in 2015, representing an 86% increase on the 7,000 units delivered in 2014. While this represents very tangible progress, in order to deal comprehensively with the housing list, further ambitious targets will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Programme for Government 2011to 2016 included various reforms to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector. Public Service Agreements have been the primary vehicles used to implement these reforms. Consultative forums and other resolution mechanisms are an inherent and integral feature in the delivery of any reform programme. Where the need has arisen, resolution...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: A new water charging regime of annual capped charges was announced by the Government on 19 November 2014. The charges structure was revised with a view to making it simpler and fairer, providing more clarity and certainty to households. The capped annual charge is €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households until the end of 2018. All households now...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Government announced in 2011 the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the Shared Ownership Scheme, given the changes in the property and lending markets. There are no plans at this time to develop a new shared ownership scheme. The terms and conditions governing the operation of standard annuity mortgages provided by local authorities to qualifying first time buyers...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: My Department, with the assistance of the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and the Local Authority Housing Loans Management Group, has been examining the operation of the Shared Ownership Schemes for existing borrowers. The issues arising with Shared Ownership Schemes require careful consideration and expert financial data analysis. Arising from the findings of the examination to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax is based on the construction and use of a vehicle. In order to qualify for the commercial rate of motor tax, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted for use as a goods vehicle and used solely for the conveyance of goods in the course of trade or business. Licensing authorities have an obligation under Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing)(Amendment)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Arrears Rate (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages and a breakdown of those in arrears; however, the data does not provide a specific breakdown in respect of shared ownership mortgages. The statistics on local authority mortgage arrears generally are available on my Department’s website at: by clicking...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Upgrade (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Payments Plan Implementation (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Government’s National Payments Planwas launched in April 2013 with the objective of reducing the cost of Ireland’s payment system through the increased use of more efficient payment systems to improve competitiveness and efficiency. In September 2013, ‘ eDay ’ was launched and gave businesses and public sector bodies 12 months to prepare for the smooth...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I and my colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, met with the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) on 1 December 2015 to discuss a submission containing a proposal setting out a means by which funding could be provided to Approved Housing Bodies, by credit unions, for the development of social housing. My Department has since had a further meeting with the ILCU to address...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure such as the treatment plant in Clonmel. Irish Water's costs are funded through a mix of revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, third party finance (including bank lending...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Government announced in 2011 the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the Shared Ownership Scheme, given the changes in the property and lending markets. There are no plans at this time to develop a new shared ownership scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Numbers (20 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Monthly reports are provided to my Department regarding the number of individuals accommodated through housing authorities in State-funded emergency accommodation facilities. These monthly reports are made available on my Department’s website at the following link:. My Department is in the process of collecting and collating data on individuals that accessed emergency accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (20 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Last year Exchequer funding of over €40 million was made available to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. I expect to be in a position to increase that funding for 2016 and the allocations to individual local authorities will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (20 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed: - the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments, - a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (20 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Details of funding provided to Laois County Council under the primary social housing support programmes for the years 2011 to 2015 inclusive are set out in the following Table. - CAPITAL CAPITAL CAPITAL CAPITAL CAPITAL CAPITAL CURRENT CURRENT CURRENT Laois County Council LA Build / Acquisition €m Voluntary Housing Capital Assistance Scheme €m Traveller...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Applications (20 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The processing of applications for social housing support, and the allocation of that support, is solely a matter for the housing authority concerned, in this case Dublin City Council. As current housing legislation specifically precludes me as Minister from intervening in individual housing cases, it would not be appropriate for me to become involved in the case concerned. However, I would...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (19 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The national targets in respect of social housing have been set out in the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020, along with details of the financial resources to deliver those targets. The Strategy provides a comprehensive response to the need for social housing and targets the provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social...