Results 16,201-16,220 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (13 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: In November 2014 I announced a package of measures to ensure that domestic water charges are certain, affordable and clear. A range of flexible payment options are available. Irish Water facilitates bill payment through direct debit, electronic funds transfer, payment by cash at any retail outlet with a Paypoint or Payzone sign, or a post office where a bill can be paid in full or part...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Administration (13 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The total funding allocated by my Department under the Capital Assistance Scheme to Leitrim County Council in respect of the project concerned is €538,711. The Capital Assistance Scheme provides funding to local authorities for the advancement of sheltered housing projects that the authorities have agreed with approved housing bodies. The funding in this case relates to land costs of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (8 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: Methane is a greenhouse gas which is a cause of climate change and a source of air pollution which impacts on health and the environment, including crop productivity. Although predominantly produced by agricultural activity, other sectors, for example, waste management, also produce significant amounts of methane. While the original European Commission proposal include d methane...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Genetically Modified Organisms (8 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: In terms of the issue raised regarding whether Ireland intends to go GMO free and whether we intend to inform the EU Commission of same, it is important to note that, in going GM free, there are several issues that warrant serious and detailed consideration. In terms of cultivation, it is important to note that currently there is no commercial cultivation of Genetically Modified...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (8 Oct 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: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Administration (8 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge. The NPPR Charge of €200 per annum, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (8 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: A clear governance structure is in place to oversee the implementation of the Social Housing Strategy. I, along with my colleague Minister of State Paudie Coffey, co-chair the high-level Oversight Group which is made up of key stakeholders including representatives from the local government sector at Chief Executive level. A Project Board is in place, chaired by my Department, to lead on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (8 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The vehicle fleet is progressively being replaced by cars taxed on the basis of CO2rather than engine capacity. At 31 August 2015, just under 40% of the passenger vehicle fleet was taxed on the basis of CO2emissions and the proportion of the fleet taxed on this basis is increasing by approximately 5 percentage points per year. The implications of this and the range of other factors impacting...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Disability Support Services (8 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 217, inclusive, together. My Department has policy and legislative responsibility for matters related to dog control only, including, inter alia,matters in relation to dog licensing, restricted dog breeds and local authority responsibilities, as set out in the Control of Dogs Acts and relevant Ministerial Regulations. Regarding assistance dogs, and in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (8 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: Since December 2011, my Department and the Housing Agency have been engaged with NAMA identifying properties that might potentially be suitable for social housing purposes. Since the process began, up to end of June 2015, a total of 1,386 NAMA residential properties have been delivered for social housing use, comprising of 1,083 completed properties, with a further 303 that have been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 188 together. 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, -...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: Earlier this year and following an assessment of progress to date, the Government introduced a package of measures on tackling mortgage arrears. The aim of these measures is to ensure delivery of the Government’s commitment to addressing the mortgage arrears challenge and in particular to make available a range of options to distressed borrowers and to keep as many people in their...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The issues...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: Data on homeless households in emergency accommodation is provided through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). Quarterly reports from lead housing authorities are published on my Department's website as soon as these are available. In addition, lead housing authorities provide monthly reports on homelessness which identify the number of people utilising State-funded...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am very conscious of the need to have all vacant social housing that is lettable made available to those on housing waiting lists. For that reason, my Department is providing funding support to Sligo County Council, and to all other local authorities, to return all lettable vacant social housing units that they have identified to productive use. My Department has no involvement in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The current programme of funding support which my Department provides for local authorities to return vacant social housing units to productive use is directed at units where the cost of remediation greatly exceeds the cost of the normal end-of-lease maintenance. Support under the programme is capped at €30,000 of Department funding per unit and has a particular focus on increasing the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets required quality standards. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes or fittings within the property boundaries, including within the house itself, therefore rests with the homeowner....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seanad Reform (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have no immediate plans to amend the provisions in the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947 relating to the arrangements for bye elections for the filling of casual vacancies.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Applications (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department wrote to Limerick City & County Council on 18 August 2015 informing them of the approval of a revised budget for this project.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance (7 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has informed me that the site of St. Laurence Park, Stillorgan is identified for major development, which is intended to provide for a significant number of residential units in the area, including...