Results 3,641-3,660 of 20,793 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which was published in November 2014. To this end an ambitious target has been set for the scheme for 2015, with 8,400 households to have their housing needs met though HAP by the end of the year. €23.2 m has been made available for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Postal Voting (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: There is no specific definition of the term “derelict building” in the Derelict Sites Act 1990. However the term “derelict site” is defined in section 3 of the Act to mean - “any land which detracts, or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Postal Voting (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 234 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 566, 590, 595, 596, 598, 603 and 604 of 24 February 2015 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under section 111(1) of the Electoral Act 1992, as applied to the taking of a poll at a referendum bysection 32 of the Referendum Act 1994,only a person whose name is on the register of presidential electors for the time being in force for a constituency is entitled to vote at a referendum in that constituency. There is no provision in law for making changes to the register of electors at a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Haulage Industry Regulation (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: My colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, has established an Inter-Departmental Working Group on issues relating to the Irish haulage industry , which includes representation from my Department. The Group issued a consultation paper late last year to canvas the views of hauliers and other stakeholders on the options for reform of the commercial vehicle motor tax regime....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Directives (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive, Ireland is required to reduce exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The CAFE Directive was transposed into Irish legislation by the Air Quality Standards Regulations 201. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the competent authority for the Regulations and the CAFE Directive. These regulations require that Member States reduce...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Pollution (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Neither my Department nor I have had meetings with the company or person referred to regarding a bid to purchase Permanent TSB mortgages. I understand that the Housing Agency have had discussions with a number of stakeholders, including this Group, in relation to various proposals on foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears. I also understand that my colleague, Ann...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water is a non-consolidated subsidiary of Ervia and does not, at this point in time, have a separate credit rating. Ervia has an investment grade credit rating from each of Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. Each of these ratings reflects the current relationship between Ervia and Irish Water. It is Ervia's intention to seek a stand-alone credit rating for Irish Water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 237 together. Irish Water has a €300 million loan from the NPRF at an annual interest rate of 2.5%.  There is no security for this loan but the loan is guaranteed by the Minister for Finance, for which a separate guarantee fee is payable. Irish Water has put in place facilities with commercial banks in the amount of €150...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Social Housing Strategy 2020 builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable 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 Strategy targets the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units over the period to 2020. The cost to the exchequer of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Litter Pollution (26 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat littering and include provisions relating to dog fouling.  Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering, including dog fouling, is a matter for local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (3 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department provides funding to local authorities for various social housing supports, including for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding provided by my Department meets 90% of the cost of the works, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%. My...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (3 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: A refund of motor tax may be granted by the licensing authority where the vehicle has been taxed, provided the licensing authority are satisfied that the vehicle is not being used due to certain limited circumstances. These include where the owner has ceased to use the vehicle because of illness, injury or other physical disability, where the vehicle is not being used because of service...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (3 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax is based on the construction and use of a vehicle. In order to qualify for the commercial rate of vehicle tax, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted for use as a goods vehicle and must be being used solely for the conveyance of goods in the course of trade or business.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Regulations (3 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Article 30(1)(g) of the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, provides that the requirement to hold a waste collection permit shall not apply to “the collection and transport of animal by-products, other than catering waste”. In this regard, “manure” is a Category 2 animal by-product and is defined in Article 3(20) of the Animal By-products...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (3 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 14 January 2015, I signed an order under section 12 of the Water Services (No 2) Act 2013. This order provided for the transfer to Irish Water of all underground water services assets previously vested in any local authority. Further orders for the transfer of assets are currently being drawn up and I expect to shortly sign an order for the transfer of some 250 treatments plants from local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (3 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Budget 2014 contained a special provision in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF) to assist in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments arising from the economic downturn. Cavan County Council did not apply for SRF funding in respect of Lisgrey Gardens, Bailieboro at that time. An application for SRF in respect of this development was received from...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. Data on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (3 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together. On 4 December 2014, I hosted a special Summit on Homelessness to reaffirm the Government's commitment to end involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. A number of actions arising from the Summit were considered at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform on 8 December and were then...