Results 3,801-3,820 of 20,793 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: The law in relation to twinning arrangements is set out in section 75 of the Local Government Act 2001 and while there are no direct supports available from my Department, it would be open to local authorities to support such initiatives from local resources. In addition, at EU level, Strand 2 of the ‘Europe for Citizens’ Programme 2014-2020 includes a measure dealing with town...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No 1 on today’s Order Paper. The 7,400 new social housing units to be provided in 2015 are broken down as follows: - 1,400 units to be built or acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies; - 3,000 units under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative; - 1,000 vacant local authority units will be returned to use; and, - 2,000 new Rental...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Animal health and welfare policy is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, the provisions of which apply to all animals including those in dog pounds. I am not aware of any reports of systemic issues of overcrowding in dog pounds.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am fully aware of the many challenges facing both the private and public housing sectors. Increasing housing supply is a critical issue and that is why, in May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 - A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. While the Strategy’s overarching objective is to put the construction sector as a whole on a sustainable footing, it sets out a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No 4 on today’s Order Paper. Local authorities no longer incur any expenditure on water services assets. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for operating and maintaining all water services assets and so it is Irish Water that is responsible for all such expenditure. Irish Water plans to invest over €400m in water infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 4 February 2015, I announced that my Department, in conjunction with the Department for Public Expenditure & Reform, has approved approximately 200 staff for local authorities, in order to support the implementation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020.The type of posts involved include Architects, Engineers, Planners, Surveyors, Housing Officers and Craftsmen, at varying grades....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessnesswas published in which the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website at the following link: . This plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Expenditure (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Exchequer funding of over €37 million was provided by my Department to local authorities in 2014 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Combined with an additional 20% contribution by individual local authorities, there was an overall spend last year of €46.3 million in this area. I am pleased to confirm that the 2015 amount will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Data (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: The pyrite remediation scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the report of the independent Pyrite Panel and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. It is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. In...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes funding for group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme is, therefore, a matter for the local authorities. The National Rural Water Services Committee, which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Assets (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 13 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides that moneys accruing to a housing authority from the sale of dwellings under the incremental and tenant purchase schemes provided for under Parts 3 and 4 of that Act, the resale of dwellings or sites under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 and from other specified sources, shall be accounted for by the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Income from Motor Tax currently accrues to the Local Government Fund. The Fund historically provided local authorities with finance to fund some of their day-to-day activities, including elements of water services costs, through General Purpose Grant allocations. Following the establishment of Irish Water, the water-related element of General Purpose Grants which previously went to local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (4 Mar 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 I published on 26 November 2014. Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the first phase of the HAP statutory pilot commenced with effect from 15 September 2014 in Limerick City and County...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Properties (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: In general, premises and sites occupied by my Department are rented or leased by the OPW, rather than directly by my Department. Details relating to premises and sites currently rented directly by Met Éireann are set out below. Location Rental Cost for 2014 Landlord Capacity of premises (number of staff) Occupancy of premises (number of staff) Office space - Met Éireann,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Borough District of Drogheda, which was determined by statutory order on 31 January 2014 on the basis of the recommendations contained in the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report 2013,encompasses a larger area than that of the former Drogheda Borough Council and has a population of almost 42,000. I am keeping the matter under review in the context of the wider local government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Safety Act 1981, the Building Control Act 1990 and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which may be relevant in relation to fire safety arrangements in residential developments. Compliance with the statutory requirements that apply to a building, or works in relation to a building, is first and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 to 212, inclusive, together. In law the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local authority as a registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. This involves the carrying out of house-to-house or other local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 224 together. In 2013, the Housing Agency was asked to conduct a stand-alone 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Pollution (4 Mar 2015)

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...