Results 4,141-4,160 of 20,796 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (22 Apr 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 such works, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (22 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 243 of 26 March 2015, the Producer Responsibility Initiative scheme for tyres will comprise the following main features: - A single compliance scheme for end-of-life tyres to be operated by Repak, - The ending of the option to “self-comply” under the Regulations, - Formalisation of the existing recycling charge into...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Applications (22 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme (AHB-mortgage-to-rent) an AHB can acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage, enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant. To be eligible for the Approved Housing Body (AHB) mortgage-to-rent scheme a household must have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable under...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (22 Apr 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 needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding provided by my Department meets 90% of the cost of such works, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for his question. A key component of the strategy to establish Irish Water is that Irish Water will be classified as a market corporation under EUROSTAT rules and as a result will not, other than in relation to Government support, be included in the calculation of the general Government balance. The CSO is independent and is responsible for engagement with EUROSTAT on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The €100 grant is very much welcomed by many people I have met in Offaly.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: There is no correlation between legislation proposed to be introduced in the very near future to address the issues he raised and EUROSTAT's decision. EUROSTAT is completely independent and deals with the CSO here in Ireland. When it makes its decision is a matter for that organisation. I cannot dictate; I can just give guidance in this House on what I expect to the best of my ability, as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: -----to ensure that people's taps could not be turned off. However, I expect legislation on enforcement mechanisms to be brought before the House in the coming weeks.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: No; I do not think it is ironic at all. It is done with the best information available. Irish Water gets the best rates it can. It continues to consider various other ways of borrowing and is very close to some more success in that respect. Ultimately, we believe, Irish Water will be off-balance-sheet. It is absolutely necessary for Irish Water to be in a position to borrow at the scale...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for the question. The establishment of Irish Water, which is an integral component of the Government’s water sector reform strategy, will lead to lower costs and improved services in the future, providing much better outcomes for customers and the environment. Irish Water is being funded by a combination of domestic and non-domestic water charges, Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: There will be no smoke and mirrors in any aspect of this or the water conservation grant. The domestic revenue to be delivered is €271 million. There will be several measures in place to enable people to pay, and they will be facilitated by flexi-pay options, etc. There will also be enforcement mechanisms in the legislation, which the Deputy awaits eagerly and which will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The EUROSTAT decision has not been deferred. That is a matter for EUROSTAT. It is an independent body and its independence is critical and necessary. I just want to nail that one.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Funding (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: That is a matter for EUROSTAT. It is not a matter for this Government. I hope the Deputy knows that. It is up to EUROSTAT to make its decisions. There will not be a shortfall in respect of the figures the Deputy quoted. Legislation on enforcement will be brought through the Houses to ensure that the income I stated, €500 million, will be delivered. I am very confident of that....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I than the Deputy sincerely for asking this question. Social housing is a key priority for Government, and the social housing strategy targets the supply of 35,000 additional social housing units. I have managed to get €4 billion in the teeth of very difficult economic times. Even the Deputy, I hope, would acknowledge that that is a substantial amount of money to get in these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: More than €500 million will go to Dublin between now and the end of 2017. The Deputy can challenge the figures all he wants, but that is real money. I have some news for the Deputy concerning the targets he has so eloquently addressed. As regards the targets set for the four local authorities in Dublin, we asked them all what they wanted. We met with them and discussed it in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have secured the largest budget for social housing in the history of the State. The Deputy referred to Dún Laoghaire. We have had a substantial engagement with the local council there. However, he omits the fact that there is a mix, including purchasing units in some cases. The Deputy has often spoken about boarded-up social houses, which we call voids. They are being turned...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: This is real money that is fixed and ring-fenced for this purpose. It will have a dramatic impact. I want to see it being turned around as quickly as possible. We have weekly meetings with the Dublin housing taskforce and I also chair a monthly meeting with all the relevant parties to ensure that this situation is being turned around as quickly as possible. The Deputy should remember...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: As the Deputy is well aware, I announced delivery targets under the social housing strategy for all local authorities which took into account proposals submitted by the local authorities themselves for the delivery of units for the period 2015 to 2017. It is important to stress that every local authority, including the Deputy's local authority, had to put forward their own proposals. They...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The answer to that question is "Yes". We have worked with every local authority, including the local authority in the Deputy's constituency, to ensure that what they have requested is being prioritised. We are working with the local authorities on that and are being as flexible as we can to help sign off on projects that can be turned around as quickly as possible, whether that be new...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am happy the Deputy asked that question because I want to outline to the House the level of management the Department is putting into this as it is such an important issue. All the local authority housing managers and directors are currently meeting with my Department. That is the level of seriousness with which we are taking this issue. Yesterday, myself and the Minister of State,...