Results 2,641-2,660 of 20,763 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Introduction (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: In January 2013, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) was commissioned by my Department to undertake a study into water affordability and the provision of water services in Ireland. Subsequently, an Inter-Departmental Working Group was established in October 2013 to advise the Government on the appropriate method for addressing affordability issues which might arise with the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Details of funding to be provided in 2015 under individual elements of my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, including the allocation for Traveller-specific accommodation, will be set out in the 2015 Revised Estimates Volume to be published later this month. Thereafter, the allocation of funding for traveller accommodation to individual local authorities will be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Social Housing Strategy2020: Support, Supply and Reform,, approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. In committing to provide 35,000 new social...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Expenditure (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The original value of the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013 was €427 million. In late 2011, the European Commission offered Member States that were part of the Financial Stabilisation Mechanism an opportunity to avail of an increased co-financing rate from 55% up to 85%. The increased rate was to apply to 2012 and 2013 expenditure only. This reduced the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: In April 2014, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill. The Bill is listed among the Bills expected to be published during the Autumn Session,as part of the Government’s Legislation Programme. Drafting of the Bill has now been finalised within the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Accordingly, I intend to seek Government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group (now Ervia) and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. My Department had no involvement in the award of the contracts for the water metering programme.Following a tender process, the final cost...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Rate (2 Dec 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. The power to vary LPT rates has been given to local authorities to further increase their autonomy. Elected members are already responsible for finalising the annual budget of the local authority – it...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The most recent statutory Assessment of Housing Need was undertaken in May 2013. It identified 89,872 households which qualified for social housing support. Of the 89,872 households recorded as in need of housing as at 7 May, 2013, there were 2,808 households recorded having a housing need due to living in an institution, emergency accommodation or hostel.  Full details of the 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Welfare (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The humane destruction of dogs is provided for in the Control of Dogs Act s 1986 to 2010, and it is a matter for the management of dog pounds to ensure the requirement for humane destruction is complied with when dogs are destroyed. The Acts do not provide for the issuance of mandatory guidance, and there is no provision for the making of Regulations in relation to the humane destruction of dogs.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: 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 that the CER must perform its functions in a manner that best serves the interests of customers of Irish Water. Section 32 of the Act provides that Irish Water shall submit a code or codes of practice to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (2 Dec 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. The occupier of a property is liable to pay the water charges bill, and legislation provides that the owner is the occupier unless the contrary is proven. Irish Water is providing landlords with the opportunity to prove that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Remit (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme. However, the provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Social Housing Strategy 2020, approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The funding that is provided by my Department to local authorities for social housing on an ongoing basis supports both the development of new social housing units and the acquisition of units based on the priorities set by the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority, as the housing authority for its area, to identify the social housing need and to respond as required....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill is included on the ‘A’ list of Bills in the Government’s Legislation Programme, as a Bill expected to be published in the period up to the beginning of the next Oireachtas session in mid - January 2015. It is not proposed to remove the requirement for seaweed harvesters to obtain a foreshore licence. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: At present, private developers are required under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to ensure that 20% of land zoned for residential and other uses, is reserved for social or affordable housing. Informed by a recent review of the Part V provisions, which included a public consultation process, my Department has published the General Scheme of the Planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Countryside Recreation Strategy (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The economic and social benefits derived from landowners allowing greenways or walkways through their lands is fully recognised by my Department, as is the possibility of inconvenience or loss caused to these landowners by allowing such projects to proceed. Permissive access, which does not attract any incentive or compensation, will continue to be a key tool in the delivery of these types...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I presume that the Question relates to the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September 2014 which the Taoiseach attended. While not part of the formal UNFCCC negotiations, the UN Secretary General convened world leaders in order to mobilise political will for an ambitious global legal climate agreement by 2015 that limits the world to a below 2°C rise in global...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and forms part of a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I launched last week. The HAP scheme is designed to bring together all the social housing services provided by the State, with local authorities being responsible for all households with an established housing need, including those...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform , approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. Initial funding, through the €2.2...