Results 2,741-2,760 of 20,763 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 outlines the obligations on public service bodies to employ people with disabilities. There are three interlinked requirements. Firstly , public bodies must, insofar as practicable, take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities. Secondly, unless there are good reasons to the contrary, at least 3% of their...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Since July 2011, my Department’s website has been used as the primary mechanism for seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of State bodies under my Department’s aegis. Positions have, where appropriate, been listed on the Department’s website and, more recently, on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: For the record, I was not involved in any of that. I believe the Bills Office issued the Bill before it was signed off on by the Cabinet. It was re-issued. I was not even aware of it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Yes, although I suppose I should not be discussing what happens at Cabinet. The Bill was published.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: In fairness, a human error was made in the Bills Office.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The implementation group to which Deputy Cowen referred is chaired by Ms Bairbre Nic Aongusa, who is sitting to my left, and it meets on a monthly basis to oversee the implementation of some 80 actions. As part of that, Ms Nic Aongusa meets representatives of Dublin City Council to discuss the range of social housing actions which must be executed and also the issue of homelessness. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: That would be no problem. I will go through the process of what is going to be involved but, in principle, I have no objection.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Members of the committee can work it out among themselves. In principle there is no issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: There is a structure to this. We have to adhere to the structure. It just needs a format to work with. In principle I agree with the Deputy that we need to find actions based on it. We have added a further 20% to the budget for homelessness. Just weeks ago I gave another €4 million for Dublin alone. I am not convinced it is all about funding. There may be isolated issues...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I was just about to give the Deputy that figure. It will be in excess of 22,000 units. These figures were in the public domain last week. The Deputy has read and digested the strategy. The current figure is 22,273 units, but I would like to increase it somewhat, if possible. The Deputy need not have concerns about reform. The changes being considered are meant to facilitate people....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: May I deal with Deputy Stanley's questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I am not 1 million miles away from the midlands myself.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I will do my best. The answer to Senator Landy's question about AHB regulation is "Yes", that will be coming through shortly and in place by 2016. There will certainly be a discount in place in the tenant purchase scheme. It is not going to be offered in the same way as it was in the past. I think it needs to be improved, to be honest. I will be straight about this; a number of Deputies...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It would affect supply and as a result increase rents.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: If the Deputy wants to question the PRTB and the viability of their analysis, he is free to do so, but I have to take it on board. We also have an issue with awareness levels on tenants' rights, and this is something we need to deal with collectively. Many tenants are being treated in a certain way because they are not aware of their rights. There is a considerable amount of regulation and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I am due in the Dáil Chamber now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I will answer that in 30 seconds. We have seen increases in the recent past and Deputy Mulherin is correct - this issue needs a complete re-analysis. At the moment we are putting together an investment programme for group water schemes over the next four to five years and identifying the areas on which we need to concentrate. That is happening now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: If the Deputy wants to raise particular schemes with me, I will be happy to deal with them.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (3 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 issue raised in the question is an operational matter for Irish Water and one in which I have no function. I understand that Veolia are providing meter reading services to Irish Water as a result of a public tender and...