Results 18,421-18,440 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I outlined the position on loans last night with €150 million to be transferred. Group water schemes, which are the backbone of rural Ireland and which many Members are vocal about, will be exempt from rates. This is critically important because the people running them have worked for decades to provide an adequate water infrastructure for their localities. Local authorities...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The company paid €198,000 in County Mayo and €760,000 in my own county.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: We are exempting these from rates through the legislation. This is a pass through cost which supports Irish Water in what it is doing. It is the right thing to do. The company will be exempt from rates. It is a case of one side of the Exchequer paying another side.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: A number of Members expressed concern about the cost base and the market corporation test but this is a helpful component. Another Member asked about PwC. I have to accept the assumptions the company used and the work that was done. There has been a great deal of commentary about the CER. It is not up to me or anyone else to second guess the regulator, which is an independent authority...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is a pass through cost.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: They are comparative figures. The report is available to Deputies who wish to look at it.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water did.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: My answer to the question on BDOs is "no" because this is a public infrastructure and, therefore, they are all exempt. I will return to other questions. This is a pretty simple process. It is about a pass-through cost that we are putting into the Bill. Prior to the establishment of Irish Water, the relevant local authorities were responsible for the operation of water services, as we all...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. 41:In page 12, to delete lines 21 to 23 and substitute the following: “ “21. The entire network (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Water Services Act 2007) used for the provision of water services (within the meaning of that subsection) by Irish Water or a person who holds a water services licence under section 79 of the Water Services Act 2007 or...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I wish to reply because some questions were raised. I wish to correct something. I inadvertently referred to the Data Protection Commissioner's website instead of Irish Water's website. The protocol that I am making available is on Irish Water's website. Deputy Murphy asked about the discussions in respect of the Department of Social Protection but these preceded my tenure and I know...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Before I begin, I wish to inform the House that I will table an amendment to section 2 of this Bill on Report Stage. I previously indicated that the amendment would be introduced in the Seanad so I wanted to update Members on this change. The amendment was discussed in detail in this House in the course of debates on the Bill and I believe it will be welcomed. This section is important...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Concessionary rates of motor tax for vintage vehicles have been in place since 1991. The rates were initially set at £10 (€13) for motorcycles and £25 (€32) per annum for all other vintage vehicles. The current rates are €26 per annum for motor cycles and €56 for all other vintage vehicles. I have no plans to further reduce these already favourable rates.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 229, inclusive, and 246 together. Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive of 2000 requires Member States to take account of the principle of recovery of the costs of water services, in accordance with the principle of “polluter pays”. Article 9(4) of the Directive states that Member States are not in breach of the Directive if they...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The most recent published figures for unaccounted for water for each of the local authority administrative areas are set out in the report Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2012, which was published by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on 24 March 2014. A copy of the report is available on the LGMA website at . Irish Water has an overall remit to promote water conservation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Provision (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: On 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessnesswas published in which the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website at, . Bringing vacant local authority housing back into productive use as quickly as possible is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Plastic Bag Levy (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Receipts from the plastic bag levy for each year are published in the Environment Fund Annual Accounts. The 2013 Annual Accounts will be published on my Department’s website in due course after they have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Annual Accounts for the Environment Fund up to and including 2012 are available on my Department's website at the following link: .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The commercial water revenue collection totals for 2011 and 2012 are €190,984,225 and €180,684,153, respectively. The information relates to the amount of commercial water charges collected, including arrears, as reported by local authorities in Appendix 7 of their individual audited financial statements. The latest audited information that is available relates to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: International Agreements (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality to consider the issues with regard to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, as well as Ireland's signature to, and ratification of, this Convention, as appropriate. My Department continues to liaise with the Department of Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The implementation of individual social housing works contracts is a matter for local authorities. In that regard, local authorities comply with circular DPE108/001/2014 of 16 April 2014, which sets out measures to assist small and medium sized enterprises in relation to public procurement. This circular is available from the Office of Public Procurement at .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (17 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 249 together. I have no function in relation to the Irish Water application process. Under section 6 of the Water Services Act 2007 and section 26 of the Water Services Act 2013 , this is a matter for Irish Water. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all...