Results 19,041-19,060 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: We see the results in almost every city, town and county across this country today. There are major issues around the quality of water supply and the capacity of the existing system to supply treated water in the quantities needed by households, businesses and industry. For example, there are more than 20,000 people on boil-water notices and almost 1 million more depend on drinking water...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The starting date for domestic water charging is being pushed back to 1 January 2015, with first bills to issue from the first week of April 2015. In cases where water is unfit for human consumption, the affected customers will receive a 100% discount on the costs of their drinking water supply for the duration of the restriction. Therefore, customers will be required to pay only for the...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Those are the facts. When we examine water charges and take into account last month's budget, every household will be better off in 2015 than in 2014 because of the considered actions over a number of years of this Government. Let me repeat this. A meter can only save a household money. I am tired of the Opposition persistently declaring it would fix the leaks before metering. Given...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Households now have a fresh opportunity to register with Irish Water. If a household fails to register, it will receive a default bill for €260 per annum per dwelling. In addition, such households will not be entitled to the €100 water conservation grant. For now, there is no need for customers who have already responded to do anything. Some households may need to amend...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water will concentrate on its core role and services into the future. Therefore, there will be no call-out service or charge. If householders have an internal leak, they should do what they always did, call a plumber. The water conservation grant replaces the tax rebate and social protection measures previously announced, as it is a more straightforward means of addressing water...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: To clarify the situation for mixed use customers who are both domestic customers and non-domestic customers of Irish Water, for example, in the case of an apartment over a shop or a house on a farm. These households are billed separately for both uses, with separate accounts. The charging regime for non-domestic use will remain the same as applied under the relevant local authority, until...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I move:"That Dáil Éireann:supports the establishment of Irish Water as a long-term strategic investment project that will deliver the scale of investment necessary to deliver water services infrastructure to the highest standards required to meet the needs of the Irish people; recognises that managing our water resources effectively is essential to ensure that Ireland can continue...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: This is a significant moment for the country. We as a Government have made mistakes, but we now face a critical choice. Put simply, we now have a choice that is based on either short-term emotion and anger or long-term prudence and common sense. Anger is never a good starting point for any key decision. The issue of future water provision in this country needs a more sober and considered...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167, 172 and 173 together. The issue of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, which considered issues such as digital signals, microwaves and mobile phone masts, is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Illegal Dumping (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My role, as Minister, is to provide the legislative and policy framework under which both local authority and EPA enforcement action against illegal dumping is initiated. Enforcement action against illegal waste activity is a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As Minister, I am specifically precluded...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water is responsible for the water meter installation programme. I understand that Irish Water is committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible. Irish Water’s contractors examine each case of a pre-existing meter box to establish if existing meter boxes can be reused. To date, in excess of 50,000 meter boxes have been reused nationwide.  However, in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department has not received a specific proposal from Wicklow County Council relating to housing stock in Arklow. However, the funding that is provided by my Department to local authorities for social housing on an ongoing basis supports both the development of new social housing units and the acquisition of units based on the priorities set by the local authority. It is a matter for each...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Section 5.6 of the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines advises planning authorities that there should be at least a 500 metre distance from the nearest wind turbine to any noise sensitive property.Such properties would include homes and schools. The 2006 Guidelines - which are currently the subject of a focused review and will be finalised as soon as possible - were issued to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The ArklowSewerage Scheme was included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013as a scheme to commence construction within the period of the Programme. This scheme was made up of 3 contracts; 2 network contracts – South Green & Harbour Road, and Northern and Southern interceptors and a separate Wastewater Treatment Plant DBO contract....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Maritime Spatial Planning (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The development of a framework for maritime spatial planning is one of the actions set out in Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland.Implementation of actions identified in the plan is supervised by the Marine Coordination Group, which is chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Furthermore, the EU adopted Directive 2014/89/EU which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The definitive number of estates with developer - provided water services infrastructure is not known. However, preliminary analysis undertaken in 2013 by my Department, in consultation with the Water Services Transition Office and with Irish Water, indicates that, nationally, there may be approximately 800 residential developments with developer-provided stand-alone wastewater treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Transport (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department has spent €130,946, €168,083, €220,469 and €215,514 on Ministerial transport arrangements in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 , respectively. In line with Government policy, I do not use a state car. My Department employs two civilian drivers for driving duties in my own car in line with approved arrangements. The same arrangements were in place for my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates of duty applicable for the half-yearly and quarterly options are calculated at 28.25% and 55.5% of the annual rate respectively. The number of seats in a vehicle is not a determinant in arriving at the non-annual rates. This additional cost element takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Services for People with Disabilities (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. My Department is providing funding under the scheme of in excess of €8 million over the two year period. This represents an increase in funding of more than 10% per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 ,509, 518 ,522, 526 ,490 and 491 together. In April 2014, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill. The Bill is listed among the Bills expected to be published during the Autumn Session, as part of the Government’s Legislation Programme. Drafting of the Bill is currently being finalised...