Results 2,721-2,740 of 20,763 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: I regret that the reply to Question No. 150 of 20 November 2014 contained incorrect information; an administrative error resulted in the correspondence from Sligo County Council being filed erroneously. I did receive a request from the Cathaoirleach and members of Sligo County Council as outlined in Question No. 150 of 20 November 2014. As advised in the response to that Question, I met with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Road Improvement Schemes (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Under section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, a local authority may undertake specific development works subject to the procedures set out in Part 8 of the Regulations. Such works include the construction, widening or realignment of a road of over 100 metres in an urban area, or of over one kilometre in any other area....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water 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. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at or by telephone on 1890 578 578. I have on this occasion raised the issue...

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

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 83 on today’s Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.

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

Alan Kelly: Specific control requirements in relation to certain dog breeds are set out in the Control of Dogs (Restriction of Certain Dogs ) Regulations 1998. The specific control requirements in these Regulations are a balanced and workable arrangement which recognise the rights of dog owners as well as the needs of society to be protected from dogs with a significant capability to inflict very serious...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Transmission Network (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The issue of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, which considered issues such as digital signals, microwaves and mobile phone masts, is available for download on my Department’s website at: . My...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 555 and 556 together. The Land Aggregation Scheme (LAGS) was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes. The primary purpose of the Scheme was to assist in the unwinding of loans taken out by housing authorities to purchase land for the social and affordable housing investment programme. As such the...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 558 together. 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 incurred €155.7 m in establishment costs to the end of October 2014. In addition to establishment costs, in 2014, Irish Water has incurred...

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

Alan Kelly: Prior to 1 January 2014 capital funding for public water services was provided from my Department’s Water Services Investment programme (WSIP) and Rural Water Programme (RWP). 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. Some €239m has been provided to...

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

Alan Kelly: Capital allocations to local authorities amounting to €38.4 million under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability were announced on 16 January 2014. Every local authority received increased funding for these grants in 2014 compared to the 2013 allocations. My Department provides 80% funding for these schemes, with a 20% contribution from the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (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 including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has published its proposed Capital Investment Plan 2014-2016 and this is available online at . The plan identifies where Irish Water considers...

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

Alan Kelly: Budget 2014 contained a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF), to assist further in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments. The SRF was designed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 571 together. Ireland is on course to comply with its greenhouse gas emission reduction target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol in the commitment period 2008 to 2012. For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has an ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction target under the 2009 EU Effort-Sharing Decision (406/2009/EC) .   The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (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: Shared Ownership Scheme (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: In 2013, the Housing Agency was asked to conduct a standalone review of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures. While an initial draft of the review was received from the Agency, a number of issues have been identified that need further detailed financial analysis in order to fully assess the impact on local...

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

Alan Kelly: Responsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided for group water and group sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual scheme proposal s for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and...

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

Alan Kelly: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), local authorities, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Marine Institute monitor rivers, lakes, transitional/coastal waters and groundwater quality under the Water Framework Directive on a three-year cycle.  This extensive monitoring programme provides a good overview of current water quality and trends as they develop. It is understood from the...

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

Alan Kelly: Air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, also known as the CAFE Directive. The Directive requires that certain minimum levels of monitoring are conducted for the purpose of assessment and management of air quality. The EPA has responsibility for the monitoring of air quality in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Property Sales (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department is working closely with NAMA, the Housing Agency, local authorities and approved housing bodies in relation to the delivery of social housing. Detailed information in relation to the delivery of NAMA sourced units, including a full breakdown by county, by local authority and by Approved Housing Body, of units delivered on a quarterly basis, is available on the Housing...

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

Alan Kelly: The funding provided to local authorities under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme supports a range of initiatives for the development of new social housing units, the acquisition of additional units and the upgrade of existing social housing stock to ensure that it continues to be available for social housing purposes. Through these initiatives, Kildare County...