Results 16,041-16,060 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Given my Department’s remit, particularly in terms of housing and planning, I, along with Advisors and relevant officials, are centrally involved in supporting the Government’s efforts to address issues in the housing market and in relation to social housing. The key areas of activity which are either led by my Department or where my Department plays a supporting role are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department has held regular briefing and update meetings on water sector reform issues involving senior officials and Ministerial advisors from my own Department and other relevant Government Departments. These meetings, chaired and serviced by senior officials from my Department, have also been attended by Irish Water and are usually held in Government Buildings. Water sector reform...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: While it is the intention to move the basis of taxation for goods vehicles to gross design vehicle weight in the future, goods vehicles are currently taxed on the basis of unladen weight. On foot of a Court of Appeal judgment of 21 October 2015, and pending fuller consideration of the implications of the judgment and the appropriate response to it, articulated goods vehicles now fall to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Relocation (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: There are currently six officials in my Department awaiting transfer to different locations as set out in the table. Two of the applications are currently in train and the others will be progressed when circumstances permit. The rules and procedures around central transfer lists are generally settled at national level by representatives of employer and staff interests. County Number of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.  The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority during the annual budget process. The latest available audited information relates...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 3 on today's Order Paper, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Bonds (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: In November 2014 the Government approved the Social Housing Strategy 2020 which sets out a strategic framework for meeting the State’s social housing needs to the end of the decade. The Strategy includes a commitment to commence work on a financial vehicle, to be known as the Strategic Housing Fund, to raise funding for the social housing sector. The financial vehicle will be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Funding (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together. A total funding allocation for 2015 of €50.5m nationally was made for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. To date 5 6 % of the funding has been expended on the grant schemes. My Department is in ongoing contact with local authorities regarding these schemes and in that context, a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together. For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) No. 406/2009/EC. Under the ESD, EU-wide emissions in the year 2013 should be no more than the average of those same emissions in the years 2008 to 2010. Emissions in those three years were on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air and Water Pollution (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, also known as the CAFE Directive. The Directive requires that certain minimum levels of monitoring are conducted for the purpose of assessment and management of air quality.  The EPA has responsibility for the monitoring of air quality...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227, 228 and 230 to 232, inclusive, together. Ireland has met, or is on course to meet, all of its main targets under the Waste Framework Directive, the Landfill Directive, the Batteries Directive, the WEEE Directive, and the Packaging Directive. Moreover, the National Waste Report 2012, which sets out the latest annual data and which is available on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setbacks 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 of 500 metres between a wind...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Illegal Dumping (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: In April 2005, the European Court of Justice ruled, in case C-494/01, that Ireland had infringed the Waste Framework Directive under various articles of that Directive. The response of the Irish authorities to the case has two main elements - a general response addressing the structural or administrative deficiencies highlighted by the ECJ and, secondly, a response to the site-specific cases...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 provides that local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. To this end, local authorities have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Property Sales (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The sale of residential property by NAMA for purposes other than for social housing is a matter solely for NAMA. My Department does not monitor these sales nor identify the end purchaser of such properties. Since December 2011, my Department, the Housing Agency and NAMA have been engaged in identifying and securing properties that might potentially be suitable for social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Thatching Grants Eligibility (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the terms of my Department’s scheme of Grants for the Renewal/Repair of Thatching Roofs of a House, a grant is available towards the cost of renovating thatched roofs of owner occupied houses. Commercial properties may be included only where the property is also used as a normal place of residence. I have no plans to introduce a scheme for the renewal/repair of thatched roofs...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 1052, 1075 and 1076 of 3 November 2015, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Quality (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 to 246, inclusive, together. To protect our environment in regard to air quality, a number of EU Directives set out standards for a wide variety of pollutants. The current standards are contained in the 2008 Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC) and the Fourth Daughter Directive (Directive 2004/107/EC of 15 December 2004). These...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I assume the Deputy is referring to a provision in section 99 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 relating to the proceeds of sale of affordable houses, which provides that in calculating the amount payable to the planning authority, due allowance will be made for any material improvements made by the person to whom the house was sold, and defines “material...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (5 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Government has approved the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin. It is intended to have the first 150 units delivered as quickly as possible in the Dublin City Council administrative area, with the City Council acting as the contracting authority. The City Council expects the delivery of an initial 22 units by December and has issued a tender notice...