Results 2,361-2,380 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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 presume we can come back to it at some point.

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: If Members do not mind, I shall amalgamate my comments on their concerns as there was a bit of overlap. I shall first address a very real issue. I accept there is genuine concern about the legislation. My plan is to publish it next month, if at all possible, and I believe we will meet that deadline. As Members are probably aware, it is on the priority list of all legislation with a view...

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: That is what is in the proposed legislation.

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 Deputies for their comments. On the issue of the bogs, I assure Deputy Stanley that we will look into that. On the issue of the Doha Amendment ratification, I would point out to Deputy Murphy that we are one of the first countries to engage in the ratification process. We are one of the early movers, which sends a signal out to the rest of the community. If we benchmark...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Following the completion of consultation in the matter with the Minister for Health, I have decided that Irish Water customers with high water consumption due to medical conditions will have their bills capped at the relevant assessed charge, on the basis of self-declaration of eligibility. This will apply even where a water meter has been installed and will ensure that those customers will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Funding (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: A breakdown of the funding by my Department to Ballymun Regeneration Ltd over the period 2008 to 2013 in respect of the physical, social and economic regeneration of Ballymun is set out in the following table: Year Amount 2008 75,000,000 2009 63,577,376 2010 40,001,618 2011 20,519,155 2012 30,000,000 2013 18,919,515 TOTAL 248,017,664 A capital provision of €10 million has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, prescribe the current planning application fees. Any proposed changes to the fees, which were last increased in 1998, would require the endorsement of the Oireachtas pursuant to section 262 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. While planning application fees are kept under regular review in my Department, I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The downturn in economic activity associated with the recession has resulted in significant numbers of shop closures and vacant units in town centres. Other factors, such as upward only rent reviews, parking charges, rising energy costs and on-line trading have also undermined the viability of small and medium-sized businesses in the retail sector, threatening the fabric of our urban...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Infrastructure (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not compile statistical data on the amount of lead or asbestos piping in the water infrastructure system. Irish Water has informed my Department that of its estimated 58,000 kilometres of distribution system, there is a very small proportion of lead piping, consisting of approximately 190 short lengths across 14 local authorities. Irish Water is working to achieve the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not compile statistical data relating to water consumption. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commiss ion for Energy Regulation (CER). In preparing its Water Charges Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) and that the new company should be formed and registered under the Companies Acts. The Memorandum and Articles of Association, which were adopted by Irish Water on its incorporation in July 2013, provide that the appointment of directors to the Board of Irish Water is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (12 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. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water is committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible. Water Meter installation contractors examine each case to establish if existing meter boxes can be reused. In this instance it was not possible to reuse the pre-existing boxes as they were flooded with water and therefore not suitable to have a meter installed. 

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Numbers (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is a matter for each local authority, including Sligo County Council, to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department currently supports an ambitious programme of regeneration which seeks to address key aspects of disadvantage in communities and large social housing estates and flat complexes through holistic programmes of physical, social and economic regeneration. Some €70m is being provided in 2014 to support the completion or continuation of regeneration projects at a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Fund (13 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: Housing Issues (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Under the provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), all planning authorities are required to include a Housing Strategy as an integral part of their statutory development plan. The purpose of the Housing Strategy is to ensure that a sufficient supply of housing is on stream to meet the needs in the relevant authority's area taking account of tenure choice,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The appointment of directors of Irish Water is a matter for Ervia as set down in the Articles of Association of Irish Water, subject to relevant Ministerial consents. The Board of Directors operates within the relevant legislative requirements, including company law, the Articles of Association and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. Irish Water has established a...