Results 4,521-4,540 of 20,797 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not collect the information requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Grant Applications (10 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Support provided by my Department in respect of refurbishment or adaptations to houses are primarily in respect of social housing. In the case of private houses, the main programme of support funded by my Department is via the local authorities and is focussed on house adaptations for older people and people with a disability. The suite of grants under Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The interpretation and application of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, including the enforcement provisions of the Act, is a matter for the relevant planning authority in the first instance, and may ultimately be a matter for the Courts. I am not in a position to comment on the application of the planning law in individual cases. In this regard, I am specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (10 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed: - the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments, - a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a wind...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (10 Jun 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. The HAP scheme will bring all social housing supports provided by the State under the aegis of local authorities. The scheme will remove a barrier to employment by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 14 June 2013, the High Court made an order quashing that part of my Department's planning review report of 2012 relating to Donegal following a settlement between my Department and the party concerned who had brought judicial review proceedings in respect of that part of the report. The matter has been disposed of to the satisfaction of both sides. In light of these proceedings, my...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have no reason to believe that the senior counsel will not get the full co-operation of everyone. I am satisfied that proceeding on a non-statutory basis is probably the most efficient and quickest way of dealing with this. I note that there was full co-operation relating to the previous review, even though this report was then the subject of High Court proceedings. In the unlikely event...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The legislation for the office of the planning regulator will be coming through in the autumn. Subsequent to the passing of that legislation, the office will be put in place, which is something I presume the Deputy welcomes. The case of Wicklow is under thorough consideration by my Department and I expect to be able to make some comments on that in the very near future. The Deputy knows...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Addressing the current challenges relating to homelessness is a top priority for me and my Department. I will not say there is any silver bullet or that it is easy, but we are trying every combination we can. It is not about funding. It really is about trying to ensure we can put in place all the strategies that will work. I have put in place a special task force to oversee the work of an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: We have made a number of changes. We have put substantial amounts of funding into it and I hope the Deputy acknowledges that. There is no silver bullet as regards the necessity to provide extra supply. The funding is in place up to 2020 and it is a substantial amount. We have works programmes with the local authorities for social housing. That work is ongoing, as everyone is aware....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I will offer two observations, or comments. I deal with this as a Deputy rather than as a Minister as well. The priority is to keep people in their homes and to put in place as many intervention mechanisms as possible to do that. We are continuously rolling those out. We have 80 directions in respect of homelessness and trying to keep people in their homes. There is no one-size-fits-all...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The programme for Government included a proposal to establish Irish Water, a State-owned water company that would take over the water investment and maintenance programmes of the 34 city and county councils who acted as water services authorities. The programme of financial support for Ireland with the EU, IMF and ECB also required the preparation of proposals for implementation of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I appreciate the reasons for the Deputy's questions but I cannot make assumptions on what Siemens was thinking. It is a private company. Similarly, I cannot make assumptions about any of the other submissions made during the public consultation. The letter from Siemens, which I have read, was received during the public consultation phase and raises a number of issues and recommendations on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Absolutely. I cannot speak on behalf of Siemens which made its own assumptions, and in this case I would say wrongly. I do not know; that is just my opinion. I do not know on what it based its assumptions. I have no idea. As part of an early round of public consultation, it made its decision to submit its letter, offering ideas and concepts. It made assumptions for that. I have no idea...

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Well said.

Other Questions: Irish Water Establishment (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: 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 respect of Government support, be included in the calculation of the general Government balance. The Central Statistics Office, CSO, an independent body, is responsible for engagement with EUROSTAT on such...

Other Questions: Irish Water Establishment (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The dates and timing of this are really a matter for EUROSTAT. I do not have a date as it is not for me to decide, and I would not like to deflect from the independence of either the CSO or EUROSTAT. When they make their decision is a matter for them. The interest rate would reflect the time at which the loan was taken out and the terms and conditions of that time. I will get that...

Other Questions: Irish Water Establishment (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Pending clarification, the one thing I will say is that when a loan is taken out, circumstances are obviously different. One could apply this to many different models, depending on when funding was taken out. The circumstances in every case are completely different. I would not find it strange that there are different percentages. The information will be provided to the Deputy in due course.

Other Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: In December 2013, my Department published proposed draft revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines. These draft revisions proposed the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments; a mandatory minimum setback of 500 m between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for...

Other Questions: Wind Energy Guidelines (11 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I take on board the Deputy's comments. I cannot comment on an individual application, as she will appreciate, although I accept that there is a need to bring in the guidelines very quickly and that there is a need for clarity. I am well aware of the volume of applications across the country and these guidelines are necessary. It is one of the largest projects in terms of guidelines that...