Results 2,101-2,120 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (16 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not hold information on the allocation of social housing supports to households on the waiting list, whether by local authority housing or other accommodation provided by a housing authority. The allocation of such support is a matter for each authority in accordance with its allocation scheme made under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The results of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (16 Oct 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. This will allow for significant expansion in social housing provision, with over 7,500 new homes to be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (16 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is provided to housing authorities in respect of a range of initiatives. Details of expenditure under the main areas of the Social Housing Investment Programme for the years referred to are as follows: Measure Year/Expenditure Year/Expenditure Year/Expenditure Year/Expenditure Year/Expenditure - 2009 2010 2011 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Introduction (16 Oct 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 shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act defines a customer as the occupier of the premises in receipt of water services. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (16 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: Leader Programmes Administration (16 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: In the overall draft Rural Development Programme for Ireland for the period 2014 – 2020, which was submitted to the European Commission in July 2014, the 5 main cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick have been excluded. In addition, the governing EU Regulations require that areas to be covered by Local Development Strategies under the LEADER element of the Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (16 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 280 of 12 November 2013, which sets out the arrangements currently in place to encourage the use of rainwater harvesting and to promote water efficiency in the built environment. I have no plans to obligate homeowners to install rainwater harvesting systems in new houses. However, by referencing such systems in the building code, as has been done, my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (16 Oct 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....

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

Alan Kelly: Are you going to borrow it?

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

Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. a1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “supports the establishment of Irish Water as a long-term strategic investment project to deliver the necessary water services infrastructure and quality of services required to meet statutory compliance and demographic needs, benefitting Irish citizens and...

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

Alan Kelly: I will get the Deputy a copy. This needs to happen urgently and the Government will drive this. It is clear there has to be a seismic shift in how Irish Water interfaces with the public. Clarity and certainty has to be given to members of the public about the charges they will pay. I assure the House that the Government is working with Ervia and Irish Water to ensure these issues are...

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

Alan Kelly: This was done on the basis that these initial costs will enable the company to drive substantial cost savings and service quality improvements over the immediate period to end 2016 and for many years to come. The CER is responsible for setting performance standards for the new utility, examining its costs with a view to approving, amending or rejecting its "water charges plan" and...

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...

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.