Results 19,561-19,580 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (2 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Under Section 80 of the Local Government Act 2001, local authorities are required to make proper arrangements for the management, custody, care and conservation of their records and archives and to provide public access to their archives. The annual cost for the storage of records and archives is a matter for each local authority and this information is not collated by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Rate (1 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. This is the maximum allowable variation that can be applied by any local authority and is referred to as the "local adjustment factor" (LAF). The decision must be taken by resolution of the Council and must...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Community/voluntary swimming pools would be classified as non-domestic customers. The existing arrangements for all non-domestic customers are remaining in place with no changes for the time being. On this basis, any arrangement charitable or voluntary groups have with their local authorities will remain, and the local authorities will continue to bill for non-domestic water services as...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, to be formed and registered under the Companies Acts. Section 5 of the Act provides that the shareholders of Irish Water are Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis Éireann), the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2014,published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, provide for gross expenditure of €889.2 million in respect of my Department in 2014, including capital carryover of €72m. Gross expenditure by my Department to end of August 2014, broken down across subheads, is set out in the table. In relation to 2011-2013, following...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water is responsible for public water services and can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. If a customer is in receipt of a wastewater disposal service from Irish Water, they will be charged accordingly. The Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 provide for the authorisation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, together. Provisions for elections to Seanad Éireann are set out in Article 18 of the Constitution, in the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 and the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947. These Acts make provision for the nomination of candidates for general elections and bye elections having regard as necessary to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 182 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 550, 571, 580, 581, 582, 587 and 594 of 30 September 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 183 together. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. Irish Water has informed my Department that each water meter has a low power radio unit...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 187 and 189 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 regulation of the water sector...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Pursuant to the so-called EU Effort-Sharing Decision of 2009 (Decision No. 406/2009/EC), Ireland has ambitious, legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for each year between 2013 and 2020, inclusive. Under the Decision, emissions in the year 2013 should be no more than the average of those same emissions in the years 2008 to 2010.  In the year 2020, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is a matter for each local authority to manage its own finances in a prudent and sustainable manner. Under the Local Government Act 2001, a decision to borrow money is a reserved function of the elected members of a local authority. Section 106 of the Act determines that local authorities must obtain the consent of the appropriate Minister to undertake borrowing. Local authorities are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (1 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 591of 30 September 2014 which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Construction Regulations (30 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department has been working with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure the industry was aware of, and prepared for, the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation in Ireland. I also understand that a significant number of steel fabricators operating in the State have already established the systems necessary to comply with their obligations under the Construction Products...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (30 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Dublin Housing Supply Task Force has 11 members. It is chaired by the Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council, and consists of: - 1 representative of my Department; - the Director of Service for Planning from each of the four Dublin local authorities; - 1 representative from the Department of Finance; - 1 representative from the Housing Agency; - 1 representative from Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (30 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: There is currently a civil remedy available concerning branches or roots of neighbouring trees encroaching on one's property. I will, however, give consideration to the proposal concerned with regard to trees acutely impacting on neighbouring properties in the context of the forthcoming review of legislation in this area within my Department. The UK model is one legislative option in this...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (30 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550, 571, 580 to 582, inclusive, 587 and 594 together. Under the Water Services Acts 2007 -2013 , Irish Water may request its customers and certain specified persons or bodies, including the Minister for Social Protection, to provide it with information so that the Company can perform its functions under these Acts . The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding (30 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 to 554, inclusive, 557 to 560, inclusive, and 579 together. My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281m over that period.  It is being...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (30 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department commenced a public consultation in December 2013 on proposed “draft” revisions to the existing 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines focusing specifically on the issues of noise, setbacks and shadow flicker. These draft revisions propose: - The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments, - A...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities and the purposes for which housing...