Results 15,941-15,960 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Property Sales (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government has enabled and facilitated the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) in playing an important role in the delivery of housing supply generally, and social housing in particular.  In Budget 2016, the Minister for Finance announced that NAMA, having carried out a review of residentially zoned sites under the control of its debtors and receivers, is aiming to fund the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Government waste policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in the EU’s Waste Framework Directive. A number of specific measures have been, and will continue to be, introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated in the State and to increase the segregation of waste which cannot be prevented in line with Government policy . The introduction of pay by weight charges for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 190, inclusive, together. A total funding allocation for 2015 of €11m nationally was made to support local authorities in undertaking adaptations and extensions to their social housing stock to meet the needs of tenants with a disability or t o address serious overcrowding, and for improvement works in lieu of provision of local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 135 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that before the start of each local financial year the chief executive shall prepare and submit to the elected council a report indicating the programme of capital projects proposed by the local authority for the forthcoming and the following two local financial years having regard to the availability of resources. This report may be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides the legislative basis for the local authority budget process. Section 103 of the 2001 Act provides for the Local Authority budget meeting and states that a local authority may amend the draft budget by resolution, and may adopt the budget with or without amendment. It is a matter for each local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Resolution Processes (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government has committed to taking decisive action to address the mortgage arrears challenge, seeking to ensure that a full range of options is available to distressed borrowers and to keep as many people in their homes as possible. The Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme is now well established as part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Funding (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Housing authority administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis and funding from my Department for homeless services is also provided on a regional basis. Kildare County Council is the lead authority for the Mid-East Region, which also includes Wicklow County Council and Meath County Council. As lead authority for the region, my Department engages with Kildare County...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under a Ministerial Direction, which applies until 31 January 2016, key local authorities are required to prioritise homeless and other vulnerable households in the allocation of tenancies under their control. The four Dublin local authorities have been directed to allocate 50% of all available dwellings to such households, while the local authorities in counties Cork, Galway, Limerick and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Investment Projects (11 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including protecting the environment, providing necessary housing supports and fostering community and rural development in partnership with local government and other local development bodies. In order to deliver on this broad business agenda, my Department allocates significant resources to a wide range of organisations, including local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (11 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 6(6) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 makes provision to grant approved housing body (AHB) status to housing associations. AHBs consist mainly of voluntary or co-operative organisations limited by guarantee and registered under the Companies Acts; societies registered under the Industrial & Provident Societies Acts; and/or Trusts incorporated under the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (11 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Goods vehicles are taxed based on the unladen weight of the vehicle, and I am assuming the Deputy is referring to vehicles not over 3,000 kg, unladen. In order to qualify to be taxed as a goods vehicle, a vehicle has to be constructed or adapted for use as a goods vehicle and used solely in the course of trade or business. Where a vehicle is being used in a manner that would attract a higher...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (11 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have not at any time directed the Dublin local authorities not to rezone anymore land for housing. However, Minister of State Coffey and I jointly wrote to the Chief Executives of the four Dublin Local Authorities on 10 June 2015 in the context of their role in preparing and finalising the development plans for their areas. At that time my Department’s analysis and that of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (10 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The rates of motor tax announced in Budget 2016 apply to vehicle licences with a commencement of 1 January 2016 or after i.e. from whenever motor tax is due for renewal after that date. I have no plans to introduce compensation for owners who have taken out a vehicle licence at the old rates between the announcement in the Budget and the effective date of the new rates. In respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Breeding Regulations (10 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515, 516 and 518 together. The regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. Section 9 of the Act requires each local authority to establish and maintain a register of dog breeding establishments situated in their respective functional areas and persons intending to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Welfare (10 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are solely responsible for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas and my Department has no direct role in this regard. Certain statistics concerning local authority dog control functions are published on my Department’s website. These statistics include the number of dogs surrendered...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (10 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme a total of 3,120 cases were considered to the end of October 2015. Of these, 2,298 were ineligible or terminated during the process, including 282 cases not progressed because the household in question was deemed to be over or under accommodated, 869 cases withdrawn by the lender involved during the process, 206 applications found...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (10 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have received similar correspondence and a submission from the Irish League of Credit Unions which contains 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. I welcome the willingness of credit unions to actively seek a role in financing the delivery of social housing. The submission is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (10 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 to 527, inclusive, 531 and 549 together. We have a serious problem with waste tyres in Ireland. In discussions prior to the adoption of the 2007 Tyre Regulations, it was made clear that this was the last opportunity for the tyre industry to embrace environmental compliance and take responsibility for the waste it produces. If the required improvement...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have received correspondence in relation to a number of complaints regarding certain matters in County Wicklow which is being considered. A reply will be issued in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (10 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: In order for a household to qualify for social housing support a housing authority must carry out an assessment to establish whether the household meets specified eligibility requirements and has a housing need. Regulation 22 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 provides that a household is ineligible for social housing support where a household member owns accommodation...