Results 16,441-16,460 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Social housing, and in particular increasing supply to deal with pent-up demand, is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020in November 2014. The Strategy is a comprehensive response to the need for social housing and targets the provision of over 110,000 social...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department received an enquiry from Sligo County Council but has not received a formal request for financial assistance in respect of costs associated with the recent visit of members of the British royal family. I have no plans to provide funding for such costs. Lead responsibility in relation to the visit rests with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Lead...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Mergers (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1520 to 1525, inclusive, together. I established the Cork Local Government Committee on 15 January 2015 to carry out an objective review of local government arrangements in Cork city and county, including the boundary of Cork city, and to make recommendations with respect to whether the boundary of the city should be altered or whether Cork City Council...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department has an Internal Audit function established by charter which was approved by the Accounting Officer and the Department’s Audit Committee.  The Internal Audit Unit works under the direction of the Accounting Officer, to whom it has direct access, and the Audit Committee. The Unit is authorised by the Accounting Officer to carry out a comprehensive programme of internal...

Other Questions: Septic Tank Inspections (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I was not present for the debate but I am sure I can access the record of it. Census 2011, published by the Central Statistics Office, indicates there were 21,242 septic tanks and 4,369 individual treatment systems in County Wexford in 2011. Those are the facts. The Environmental Protection Agency is the supervisory body for the purpose of meeting the objectives of the National...

Other Questions: Septic Tank Inspections (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy. I remember the debate on this although I was not centrally involved. There were many Deputies in the House who opposed the inspection process, although I am not saying Deputy Wallace did. The plan is in place and it predates my term of office, but I now have responsibility for it. There is an agreed plan in place for the period 2015 to 2017. As part of that, we will...

Other Questions: Septic Tank Inspections (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Deputy made many comments. Given his previous occupation, he has much direct evidence and knowledge of this subject. The plan that is in place has been signed up to for 2015 to 2017. I am not afraid of change or of looking at some things a second or third time. I am not that type of person. I am committed to dealing with issues if I see them. The Deputy asked a specific question...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Very simply, people will pay their bills. That is how Irish Water will get there. It is a straight question and a straight answer.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Deputy asked a question and I ask him to do me the courtesy of allowing me to give him the answer. People will pay their bills. That is how Irish Water will get there and how the model will work. I have no plans to increase anything post the general election, now that the Deputy has raised the issue, considering that I have put this model in place. The Deputy does not like the...

Other Questions: Housing Provision (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government’s social housing strategy targets the provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the housing assistance payment and rental accommodation scheme. This will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with...

Other Questions: Housing Provision (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy. I will not deny that everyone knows that there are issues regarding housing. It is probably the biggest priority in my Department and the main reason I took this job. There is a legacy issue. It is like stopping a ship from turning to face the opposite direction and getting it moving again because the policies in place for a number of years had to be rescinded and...

Other Questions: Housing Provision (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: It is interesting that the Deputy has asked that question. Not alone am I doing it, but we have measurement and management information techniques built into every decision we make. On the allocations given across a range of areas, I have informed local authorities that within a couple of weeks we will conduct an analysis of those that are up to speed. If they are not, funding will be taken...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: A key component of the strategy to establish Irish Water is that the utility will be classified as a market corporation under EUROSTAT rules and as a result will not, other than in relation to Government support, be included in the calculation of the general government balance. The Central Statistics Office is responsible for all engagement with EUROSTAT on such matters, and the Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy. I also have to be open and straight with the House. This is a matter for EUROSTAT. I expect it will be imminent but I cannot dictate or decide when it will make its decision. We have already stated quite publicly what has been put forward to it, but it is an independent process with regard to its decision and when it announces that decision. I have no control...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I note the comments of ICTU. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, now Ervia, conforming to the conditions contained in the Act and registered under the Companies Acts. Section 5 of the Water Services Act 2013, as amended by Section 46 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, prohibits each of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I note ICTU's comments in Ennis. I also note that there was a broad discussion on it and it was not unanimous. There were many different discussions and different views on it, particularly from many different unions, one of which I am a member of. Under no circumstances will Irish Water ever be privatised. The provisions are in place to ensure that does not happen. As a member of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have outlined on numerous occasions in this House with the Deputy why the chances of Irish Water being privatised are nil. He can say what he wants. I have heard him numerous times saying that a future Government could just change the legislation. However, it would also have to decide to take away a decision to put it to the will of the people. It would be some Government that would...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: If they did, I am not sure they know what they are talking about privatising. Is it water in the ground or Irish Water? What is it? That is the baseline from where he is starting. He has to define something. I am not even sure that is possible.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Septic Tank Grants (16 Jul 2015)

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 wastewater treatment systems which were deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s national inspection plan and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Septic Tank Grants (16 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: There is a system in place. It had to be put in place as a result of a European Court decision. Under the plan in place and working through the EPA and the local authorities, 1,000 inspections are taking place every year. By and large, local authorities have kept up with the level of inspections they were required to undertake. Incidentally, this is a minimum inspection level. If local...