Results 4,641-4,660 of 20,797 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Ireland’s statement at the 20th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP20) in Lima recognised the Green Climate Fund as a key instrument in mobilising climate action. It is important to note, however, that it is not the only means by which climate finance is made available. Despite our recent difficult economic circumstances, Ireland has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Projects (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Kildare County Council submitted a proposal to my Department in 2008 seeking funding approval for a Remedial Works Scheme at St. Patrick’s Park, Rathangan, County Kildare. Following a detailed examination of the proposal, my Department provisionally approved funding of €6.8 million for the scheme in July 2011 on condition that 10% of the cost would be met by the local authority....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1078 and 1079 of 9 June 2015. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas. It is a matter for each local authority to identify the appropriate social housing initiatives and supports, as well as the types of units required to meet the social housing need in their respective functional areas and to bring forward specific proposals to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 542, 543 and 559 of 6 May 2015, No. 208 of 14 May 2015 and No. 977 of 26 May 2015 which set out the position in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I understand that Safe Home Programme Ltd, a charitable organisation supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs Emigrant Support Programme, provides an information and advisory service for anyone considering a move back to the State, including information on their housing options. To apply for housing under the service, applicant s must meet certain criteria including an inability to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Administration (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government has committed to taking decisive action to address the mortgage arrears challenge; to ensure that a full range of options is available to distressed borrowers; and to keep as many people in their homes as possible. As part of the package of commitments on mortgage arrears announced by Government recently, a number of amendments to the private (Approved Housing Body) mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The information requested is set out in the following tables on a whole time equivalent basis (WTE). Level 5 Local Authorities December 2012 WTE December 2013 WTE Galway City Council 435.33 419.86 Waterford City Council 344.18 335.58 Carlow County Council 276.09 265.37 Cavan County Council 380.90 370.10 Laois County Council 342.70 341.93 Leitrim County Council 26...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Funding (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department provides funding for regeneration projects at a number of locations and details of the funding envisaged for 2015 is set out as follows: Regeneration Project Allocation Limerick €28m Tralee €2.9m Cranmore Estate (Sligo) €2.0m Dublin City €15m Cork City Northwest €7m Cox’s Demesne Estate (Dundalk) €2.4m ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: A new water charging regime was announced by the Government on 19 November 2014. The capped annual charges will be €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households until the end of 2018. All households now know what their capped bills will be until the end of 2018, which is particularly important for larger households or those with high usage due to medical...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Subject to age and residency requirements, a registered elector's citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Irish Citizens alone are entitled to vote in Presidential elections and referendums. While electoral law is subject to ongoing review, I have no proposals at present to extend the current arrangements for voting by non - Irish citizens in referendums.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Environment Fund was established by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001 and is managed by my Department. Income accrues to the Environment Fund from two sources – the plastic bag levy and the landfill levy. Both of these economic instruments are designed to encourage changes in behaviour; to tackle littering of plastic bags and to reduce over-reliance on unsustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Quality Monitoring Programme (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am not aware of any instances where geo-engineering is being undertaken or planned in this country, or of any geo-engineering programmes elsewhere affecting the Irish environment. I am similarly unaware of any spraying of chemicals over Ireland. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responsibility for the monitoring of air quality in Ireland, and monitors a range of atmospheric...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Policy decisions to replace town authorities with a new model of municipal governance were designed to strengthen local government within counties and to address widely acknowledged and long-standing weaknesses and anomalies in the previous system, including the problems of divided administration between town and county authorities, for example, in relation to matters such as planning, rating...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together. The operation of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 to 2010, including the establishment and maintenance of shelters for dogs seized, accepted or detained, the rehoming policy in respect of dogs not claimed by or on behalf of the owner and the destruction of dogs in a humane manner, are matters for each local authority and I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I can assure the Deputy that I would have concerns regarding any actions taken by a registration authority, or by any other person, that would compromise the integrity of the ballot at an election or a referendum. If the Deputy has concerns about the legality of any actions taken in these regards he should take the matter up with the enforcement authorities. In the meantime I have asked my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Leader element of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020, will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. Funding for community based facilities such as the one referred to in the Question may be eligible under the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The selection process for Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assitance Payment Implementation (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Social Housing Strategy’s targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: It is my understanding that the Question relates to outdoor working staff. In the case of outdoor workers, currently, the rules as set out in the Public Service Stability Agreement (Haddington Road Agreement), and referred to in the reply to Question No. 788 of 16 June 2015, apply with the exception that overtime is only payable for hours worked in excess of the normal working week and is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Supply Contamination (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 to 615, inclusive, and 627 together. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and...