Results 19,321-19,340 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together. 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. Over the last number of weeks, Irish Water has been sending application packs to approximately 2 million households. The administration and operation of this...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. My Department provides a range of funding supports to housing authorities under the Social Housing Investment Programme to improve their existing social housing stock. As part of a €50 million investment programme nationally over three years to improve the energy...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The report, Rent Stability in the Private Rented Sector, was completed towards the end of last month. I understand that the formal launch of the report is due to take place on 23 October 2014 at a Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) conference on the future of the private rented sector. The report includes an examination of rent regulation regimes in other countries and puts forward...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Measures (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The commencement of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department has no function in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall charge each customer in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that for the purpose of calculating a charge, the amount of waste water discharged from a premises is deemed equal to the amount of water supplied to that premises, unless Irish Water and the customer otherwise agree. Where a customer of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Data Protection (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 207, 215, 208, 209, 210 and 211 of 8 October 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Effective from 1 July 2014, local authorities may vary the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) in their administrative area for the following year by up to 15% of the basic rate of the Tax. The power to vary LPT rates has been given to local authorities to further increase their autonomy. Elected members are already responsible for finalising the annual budget of the local authority –...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Expenditure (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The amount spent by local authorities in the last ten years on the installation of water meters for the provision of water services for commercial and mixed use (commercial and domestic) customers is a matter for each individual authority and the information requested is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Staff (22 Oct 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 premises and equipment for use by fire service personnel , is a matter for individual fire authorities under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act s 1981 and 2003. My Department, through the National Directorate for Fire...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, sets out the process by which local authorities can take in charge housing estates. When taking an estate in charge under the terms of this provision, a planning authority must take in charge any roads, open spaces, car parks, sewers, water mains or drains within the attendant grounds of the development. The Water Services...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to charge for water services. The Act also provides that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the economic regulation of Irish water and the charges to be levied by Irish Water will be subject to the approval of the CER. The CER has already undertaken public consultations on the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The tender processes for energy retrofitting works to local authority houses is the responsibility of each housing authority. I understand that the National Local Government Procurement Office in Kerry established a multi-party framework agreement for housing authorities to access and use in respect of these contracts and it was then an option for each housing authority to use this...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: -----that I believe this is too expensive but again I point out, as stated previously, that this has not been finalised and it will be subject to the approval, as everyone knows, of CER. I also point out that the use of such services is not mandatory. As the system of charging and water services delivery through a national utility beds down there will be an ongoing need for accountability...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: -----through parliamentary questions, engagement between Irish Water and elected representatives on an individual level-----

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: -----and at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. This scrutiny is in addition to the various forms of accountability that Irish Water is subject to including the submission of an annual report on the performance of its functions to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government; the laying before the Oireachtas of the company's annual...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Government, on the other hand, has a vision. It is a vision for a country in which every household connected to public water supplies has a high quality, reliable water supply and has established a relationship with this new, national utility that is based on customer service, reliability and good communications. It is a vision for an adequately funded water and wastewater system in...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Deputy Martin is very funny.

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Tonight's debate is an important opportunity for all sides of this House to support this vision.

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is an opportunity for the House to end the negative criticism that offers no solutions or constructive ideas. Let us get behind this ambitious, far-reaching reform programme and focus on the long-term benefits for all of us and for future generations through a water utility of which we can all be proud.

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I know the man well. He is a good man. Irish Water must engage with its customers in a new way and with a new style. The brand of Irish Water must be repositioned in the public mind. Despite some protests, the metering programme is being successfully rolled out, with some 458,000 meters already installed, which will benefit overall water conservation and allow customers to manage their...