Results 19,761-19,780 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: My overall plans in relation to the future delivery of social housing will be set out in the new Social Housing Strategy which is currently in preparation, with the intention that it will be considered by Government in the coming weeks. It will contain clear, measureable actions to increase the supply of social housing, based on innovative solutions that will harness new funding streams, in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: In April 2014, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill. The Bill, which is listed among the Bills expected to be published during the Autumn Sessionas part of the Government’s Legislation Programme, is currently being drafted within the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Once the final Bill is approved by Government, my...

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

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1 on today’s Order Paper. In advance of the enactment of the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) did not have full economic regulatory powers in relation to the water sector, but did have powers to provide advice to the Minister. In that context on 22 October 2013, my predecessor approved a request from the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 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 focussing 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: Planning Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Certain planning matters in relation to County Wicklow have recently been brought to my attention. My Department is currently examining the position with regard to these matters, following which I will respond in respect of the issues raised.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Scéim um Chúnamh Tithíochta (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Cuireann an tAcht na dTithe (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha) 2014 ar fáil an clár reachtúil ar an Íocaíocht Cúnamh Tithíochta (ICT/HAP) a chur in aithne, príomhaidhm atá chun gach seirbhís sóisialta tithíochta fadtéarmach atá ar fáil ag an Stát a chónascadh faoi gcóras an údaráis...

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

Alan Kelly: Increasing both public and private housing supply is a priority for this Government and the Construction 2020strategy, published on 14 May 2014, provides a framework and action plan to secure a properly functioning and sustainable construction sector. It provides for a strategic approach to the provision of housing based on real and measured demand and addresses the full range of relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The project concerned is a Public Private Partnership between Dublin City Council, acting on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, and its private sector partner, and is part of the implementation of the Dublin Region Waste Management Plan. In accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Act 1996, the preparation and adoption of a waste management plan, including in respect...

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

Alan Kelly: 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 is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: An Bord Pleanála Appointments (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is unclear as to which Board member, or members, of An Bord Pleanala the Deputy is referring. The process for making appointments to An Bord Pleanála is governed by the Planning and Development Act 2000. In terms of its operations, An Bord Pleanála operates under a Code of Conduct as required by section 150 of the Act. One of the purposes of the Code is to ensure that any...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: On 25 February 2014, the Government approved the establishment of a Homeless ness Policy Implementation Team. The Team is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the delivery of actions outlined in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State’s Response to Homelessness, which was published on 20 May 2014. The Plan outlines the Government's approach to delivering on its...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund have historically been structured to bring about equalisationover time; that is a position of balance where the financial needs of local authorities are met by their resources and they are able to provide an appropriate level of service to their customers. Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1451, 1472, 1474, 1477, 1480 to 1483, inclusive, 1486, 1528 and 1597 together. 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. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nitrates Action Programme Implementation (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Nitrates Directive is given legal effect by the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014, known as the ‘Nitrates Regulations’. Local authorities, acting under the general supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are the competent authorities for enforcing the Nitrates Regulations. The EPA collates and publishes...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Expenditure (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is a targeted scheme catering for the accommodation needs of persons in receipt of Rent Supplement from the Department of Social Protection, generally for more than 18 months, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. From its inception in 2004 up to the end of June 2014 expenditure totalling some €707.1million has been incurred...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Administration (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1454 to 1456, inclusive, 1459, 1460, 1462, 1548, 1576 and 1619 together. The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their...

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

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 30 on today’s Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter. My Department does not collate the specific information sought.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Banking Sector Regulation (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants relating to, inter alia,security of tenure and the termination of tenancies. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Litter Pollution (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department provides extensive support to local authorities to enable them to discharge their statutory obligations under the Litter Pollution Act 1997 (as amended) and Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended). Data available under the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System show that the proportion of areas surveyed in 2013 deemed to be completely unpolluted stands at 12.2%, the highest...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1463, 1464 and 1523 together. Opportunities for All, a Strategy for Public Libraries 2013-2017, recommends “a review of existing organisation structures ... to establish stronger, more effective and efficient public libraries in the context of local government reform and shared services and new opportunities afforded by the strategy outcomes”....