Results 19,081-19,100 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. Irish Water have established a customer support call centre, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This call centre is designed for reporting of any...

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

Alan Kelly: Motor tax is payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or on an annual basis. The rates of duty applicable for the quarterly and half-yearly options are 28.25% and 55.5% the annual charge respectively. This additional cost element takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices and the National Vehicle and Driver File unit, and the resultant administrative costs and printing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Evictions (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Part 2 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 includes a new court procedure for the recovery of possession of local authority dwellings from households in serious breach of their tenancy agreements, including engagement in anti-social behaviour. The Act also strengthens the powers of housing authorities and approved housing bodies to obtain court orders to exclude  persons...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: In accordance with the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998, the requirement for dogs of certain breeds to be securely muzzled in a public place and being led by a sufficiently strong chain or leash, by a person over the age of sixteen years who is capable of controlling the dog, does not apply to dogs being used for the purpose of guidance by persons unable to find their way without guidance. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I understand that the work undertaken by Accenture was in respect of Integrated Programme Management of Business Capability Establishment projects and management of specialist vendors contracted by Bord Gáis Eireann. The procurement by Irish Water of external resources is a matter for the company and I had no role in approving individual contracts. Irish Water has established a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Commission Establishment (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Government Legislation Programme for Autumn 2014 provides for the publication of an Electoral Commission Bill in 2015. Work on this task has commenced in my Department. This will involve detailed and considered examination of the key issues, including international best practice, the Commission's structure and functions, who it reports to, its relationship with other bodies currently...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The launch of the registration programme for domestic wastewater treatment systems in late June 2012 was accompanied by an extensive public awareness campaign, with information regarding how to register and the fee payable being broadcast by local radio stations nationwide and on national stations. Advertisements were also placed in national, local and regional newspapers. Information...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (18 Nov 2014)

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 waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Construction Sector Strategy (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: In May 2014,the Government published Construction 2020 – a Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector.Following publication, a Construction Sector Group was established to support implementation of the Strategy. The Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, and includes Secretaries General and key officials from the Department of Finance; Department...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Fund (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Income from Motor Tax currently accrues to the Local Government Fund. The Fund has historically provided local authorities with finance for funding some of their day-to-day activities, including elements of water services costs, through General Purpose Grant allocations; for non-national roads; and funding for certain local government initiatives. As a result of the introduction of Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Under the provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), all planning authorities are required to include a Housing Strategy as an integral part of their statutory development plan. The purpose of the Housing Strategy is to ensure that a sufficient supply of housing is on stream to meet the needs in the relevant authority's area taking account of tenure choice,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The appointment of directors of Irish Water is a matter for Ervia as set down in the Articles of Association of Irish Water, subject to relevant Ministerial consents. The Board of Directors operates within the relevant legislative requirements, including company law, the Articles of Association and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. Irish Water has established a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises and equipment for use by the fire service personnel, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act s 1981 and 2003. My Department, through the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Programme (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The implementation of projects under my Department’s Capital Assistance Programme is a matter for each individual local authority. In this case, my Department issued approval in principle last May, subject to the proposal complying with the requirements of the Capital Works Management Framework and the Public Spending Code. Full approval can only be given by my Department when the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provisions made for the area in Budget 2015. The overall social housing funding provision for 2015 has been increased by excess of €200 million, with capital funding increasing by €180 million, which will allow for significant expansion in social housing provision. T he specific allocations to be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 217, inclusive, and 222 and 223 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 can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Introduction (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218, 219, 225 and 226 together. Irish Water is in the process of compiling the relevant data to ensure that customers can be billed accurately based on the tariff structure approved by the CER. Irish Water has sent validation packs to approximately 2 million households, which refer to the effective charging date and the fact that billing for domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Building regulations, which are primarily concerned with the safety and wellbeing of persons in and around buildings, set down mandatory performance standards for buildings, and these performance standards are reviewed and upgraded over time. The statutory requirements are set out in twelve parts (classified as parts A to M) included under the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, conforming to the conditions contained in the Act and registered under the Companies Acts. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is responsible for, inter alia, ensuring that water services are provided by Irish Water...