Results 16,621-16,640 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting on the least energy efficient social houses, with funding support from my Department. €57 million has been provided over the period 2013-2014 for improving the energy performance of older local authority housing stock, resulting in improved energy efficiency, comfort levels and Building...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: European Court of Justice Rulings (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: In April 2005 the European Court of Justice ruled, in case C494/01, 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: Wind Energy Guidelines (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 538 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; a mandatory minimum setback...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government has committed to taking decisive action to address the mortgage arrears challenge; 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 properly established as part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of...

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

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 608 of 30 June 2015. Correspondence dated 5 July 2015, has now been received on behalf of the Irish Housing Network, the contents of which will be considered.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Arts Funding (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: The provision of art works associated with capital projects funded through my Department’s capital programmes is a matter primarily for the relevant local authority. Details in relation to the scheme are available on the Publications page of my Department's website at www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/PublicArt/. The allocation for the provision of art works under the Artistic...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: The total budget across all local authorities under the heading of 'Franchise' for 2014 was €10.1 million.  This was divided into three elements - the Register of Electors (€4.8 million), Local Elections (€2.7million) and Service Support Costs (€2.6million).  This expenditure is met from the local authority's own resources. It is a matter for each local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Earlier this year, my Department received proposals from all local authorities for their planned delivery of new social housing over the next 3 years and on 5 May 2015 I announced a major social housing construction programme involving €312m of investment, comprising some 100 projects and 1,700 housing units. In the case of Galway City Council, this included Phase 1 of a new build...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes in their areas. My Department's role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Correspondence (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case, including enforcement matters and Part V agreements, with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. Enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authority, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out the process by which a planning authority can take a development in charge and determine whether or not the development is in compliance with the conditions of the relevant planning permission. In advance of taking an estate in charge, it may be necessary for a planning authority to utilise its enforcement powers to require a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (7 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 to 551, inclusive, together. Responsibility for the administration of the scheme under which subsidies are paid to group water schemes towards the operational costs of supplying water for domestic use is devolved to local authorities. The payments made by the local authorities are subsequently recouped to them by my Department. The recoupments are...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. 12:In page 28, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “Fixed payment notice for certain offences relating to waste collection permit 34. The Act of 1996 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 10A:“10B. (1)Where an authorised person has reasonable grounds for believing that a person has committed an offence under...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Like tyres.

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: There are many on top of silage.

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Catherine Murphy is correct that enforcement is much needed. As I said in my earlier contribution on this amendment, we are bringing in a structure across the country for which the local authorities are responsible and which they will have to enforce. We cannot continue as we are in regard to enforcement and we need a completely new...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: It could not be that long ago.

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Was that anywhere near the Border because that is where it goes on?

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2015)

Alan Kelly: Deputy Catherine Murphy raised a very serious issue of which I am well aware. It is in the Deputy's own neck of the woods. That was a serious issue which is being dealt with. There is a learning opportunity from that and other issues. This is all the more reason to introduce this legislation. We might argue about individual components but in the broad strokes I would expect the majority...