Results 2,341-2,360 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The correspondence referred to in the Question relates to the arrangements in place since 1 March 2014 under S.I. No. 9 of 2014 for the giving of statutory certificates of compliance with building regulations in respect of the design and construction of building projects in general. An extensive public consultation process was undertaken in 2012 to inform the development of the revised...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Arts Funding (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: 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 including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. The % for Arts scheme does not operate on the basis of there being a specific public art fund from which monies are drawn down to undertake or commission works...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The proposal in relation to this social housing project is a matter between Kildare County Council and the approved housing body. My Department is not involved in discussions in that context and has provided no funding for the project. If the project is approved and recommended by Kildare County Council, it will be given full consideration by my Department under future calls for proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 537 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 is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Issues concerning the enforcement of waste management legislation are a matter for the appropriate regulatory authority and should therefore be pursued with the Environmental Protection Agency or the relevant local authority, as appropriate. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (11 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: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Government announced on 6 May 2014 its intention to adjust the current subvention of group water schemes so that it is aligned with the free allowance approach for households on public water supplies. This is to ensure households in this sector receive equivalent support, while allowing for any transitional issues, to sustain improvements in quality in the group water sector. There has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (11 Nov 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. Following a public consultation process, the CER announced its decision...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The national strategy agreed some years ago between my Department, the Local Authorities, the then National Rural Water Monitoring Committee and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes for the provision of water treatment facilities in privately sourced group water schemes was based on Design/Build/Operate (DBO) procurement, coupled with the bundling of a number of schemes under a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 535 together. Details of all allocations to be provided in 2015 under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, including the allocation for Traveller-specific accommodation, will be made available following publication of the 2015 Revised Estimates Volume in December. It is anticipated that the funds available for Traveller-specific...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Travellers Data (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Data on homeless households in emergency accommodation is provided through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). Quarterly reports from lead housing authorities are being published on my Department's website as soon as these are available. In addition, lead housing authorities provide monthly reports on homelessness which identify the number of people utilising...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 542 together. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. Section 21 of the 2013 Act requires Irish Water to charge...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The approach taken to dispute resolution for customers of Irish Water is consistent with the general approach for commercial State companies and recognises that Irish Water is working in a different regulatory framework than that which obtained prior to 1 January 2014. It was a policy decision of the Government to establish Irish Water as a public utility and this is reflected in Water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Capital expenditure on public water and wastewater schemes has been provided under my Department’s Water Services Investment Programmes, copies of which are in the Oireachtas library. Details of capital expenditure recouped to each local authority from since 2000 in respect of water services is outlined in the following table. Statistics relating to Unaccounted for Water in each...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has published its Capital Investment Plan 2014-2016 and this is available online at The further progression of all water services capital projects, including water conservation in Westmeath, is now a matter for Irish Water to consider. Irish Water has established a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Security of the Elderly (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Introduction (11 Nov 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 Act provides specific mechanisms for the issue of Ministerial policy...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Scheme Grants (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Government announced on 6 May 2014 its intention to adjust the current subvention of group water schemes so that it is aligned with the free allowance approach for households on public water supplies. This is to ensure households in this sector receive equivalent support, while allowing for any transitional issues, to sustain improvements in quality in the group water sector. There has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I understand from Carlow County Council that this matter relates to a long and complex taxation dispute involving the Council, the Revenue Commissioners, a third party who, in 2006, agreed to provide a section of the Carlow Eastern Relief Road (in lieu of the payment of development contributions as is provided for in sections 47 and 245 of the Planning and Development Act 2000), and the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol: Motion (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the sub-committee for its invitation. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention is an international agreement which committed certain parties to internationally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets during the period 2008 to 2012, inclusive. The EU and its member states, including Ireland, made reduction commitments in respect of this first commitment...