Results 17,901-17,920 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (18 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 216, inclusive, together. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (18 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has an ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction target under the 2009 EU Effort-Sharing Decision (406/2009/EC).  Furthermore, in October 2014, the European Council endorsed a binding EU target of an at least 40% domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and specified that the target will be...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I, too, can read and have read the Labour Court's recommendation in the case. I am well aware of my responsibilities and will not shirk them. However, the fact remains that the local development companies are private entities. The Deputies have probably raised this issue a little prematurely because a tendering process is under way and will soon conclude.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Imminently.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: It means very soon.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Yes, that is the timescale.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: May I make my contribution? As part of the tendering process, we will find out what will be the scale, range and geographical and sectoral spread of the impact of the process on local development companies. I intend to ensure those on the front line who receive the services provided by local development companies will be fully protected. The Department will do everything possible to ensure...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: This is a very important issue. My Department's local community development programme, LCDP, is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The successor programme to the LCDP, the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, to be rolled out on 1 April, will build on the LCDP aims and objectives. Its aim is to tackle poverty, social exclusion and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drainage Schemes Status (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I hope to do so. I thank the Senator for providing me with the opportunity to outline the current status of wastewater services in Bandon. State investment in water services infrastructure was previously channelled through my Department's water services investment programme and the rural water programme, a function which is now largely devolved to local authorities. The high-level goal of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drainage Schemes Status (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Senator. I am aware of the anxiety of those in Bandon. I am quite conscious of the issues. I know the town quite well, as the Senator knows, and this is a real issue. I want to assure the Senator that under no circumstances would Irish Water contemplate putting in place a substandard scheme. Many schemes have been re-examined, such as the Ringsend plant in Dublin where...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: A key component of the strategy to establish Irish Water is that Irish Water will be classified as a Market Corporation under Eurostat rules and as a result, will not, other than in relation to Government operating subvention, be included in the calculation of the General Government Balance (GGB). The Market Corporation Test is a requirement that income from customers be greater than 50% of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published on 26 November 2014. The HAP scheme will bring all social housing supports provided by the State under the aegis of local authorities. The scheme will remove a barrier to employment by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Data on motor tax receipts for 1996 is not readily available. Gross motor tax receipts for Meath were £10,338,934 in 1997 and £11,511,366 in 1998. Details of receipts from 1999 to 2011 are set out in the reply to Question No. 239 of 18 September 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal) was established in October 1997 and published its Final Report in March 2012. The work of the Tribunal at present is largely focussed on the settlement of the remainder of third party and court costs incurred during the work of the Tribunal. My Department's role is to arrange payment of such fees and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tribunals of Inquiry Expenditure (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Court challenges relating to the withholding or redacting of certain information in witness statements, as well as against certain findings in interim reports of the Planning Tribunal relating to hindrance and obstruction by certain individuals, were initiated by certain parties at various times during the work of the Tribunal. Subsequent Supreme Court judgments found against the practice of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Tax Administration (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: In accordance with the Government 's decision s in relation to local retention of Local Property Tax, my Department has notified Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council of a revised provisional Local Property Tax (LPT) allocation of €34,757,156 for 2015. This allocation takes into account the passing of a resolution by the elected members to vary the basic rate of local property...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Services Staff (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Staff (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Fire services are provided by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. Under section 10 of the 1981 Act, a fire authority is required to make provision for the delivery of fire services in its functional area, including the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises. In relation to the staffing requirements in each...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: All receipts from motor tax are transferred to the Local Government Fund. Gross receipts from motor tax for each licensing authority for the period from 2010 to 2014 are as follows: Carlow Year Gross motor tax receipts (€) 2010 14,598,550 2011 14,422,438 2012 14,873,328 2013 16,258,206 2014 16,686,474 Cavan Year Gross motor tax receipts (€) 2010 15,921,215 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Local Property Tax was introduced to provide an alternative, stable and sustainable funding base for the local authority sector, providing greater levels of connection between local revenue raising and associated expenditure decisions. Given that local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources, the...