Results 5,101-5,120 of 20,797 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Owing to the scope of my remit as Minister, I receive representations, including requests for meetings, from a wide range of parties, such as public representatives, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and organisations. In response to Question No. 219 of 2 July, I set out, to the extent that it was possible to collate such information, that I had received 56 meeting requests...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Social housing is a key priority for the Government, evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for it in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November 2014. The Strategy targets the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The first phase of the statutory pilot for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme commenced in September 2014 and has been introduced incrementally to 13 local authority areas to date - Limerick City and County Council; Waterford City and County Council; Cork, Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin, Monaghan, Donegal, Offaly, Carlow, Clare and Tipperary County Councils; and Cork City Council....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: While 75% of all motor tax transactions in Dublin are now made online, motor tax applications can be made by post, as well as by presenting in person at Dublin City Council’s Smithfield Office. The location and number of motor tax off ices in Dublin is a matter for Dublin City Council, which administers the service on behalf of the three other Dublin local authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Planning legislation provides that any person or body, on payment of the appropriate fee, may make a submission or observation in writing to a planning authority in relation to a planning application within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt of the application by the planning authority. The legislation does not provide discretion for planning authorities to hold oral...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1438, 1439, 1443 and 1444 together. My Department does not provide funding to local authorities for the provision and maintenance of shelters for dogs. Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are responsible for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas and my Department has no involvement in this...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Welfare (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1440 to 1442, inclusive, and 1446 together. My Department has no direct role in the management or operation of local authority dog pounds. Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are responsible for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas, including the management of dog pounds or shelters....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The management and operation of dog pounds is a matter solely for local authorities and is a matter in which my Department has no role. I am not aware of any instances of, or investigations into, the illegal sale of dogs through local authority dog pounds.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dog Licensing (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 1 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 provides that the owner of a dog includes the occupier of a premises where the dog is kept or permitted to live or remain at any particular time unless the occupier proves to the contrary. Section 2 of the Act provides, however, that any personwho keeps or is in possession of a dog must be in possession of a valid dog licence. Accordingly, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Minister for Social Protection is responsible for the policy and operation of the Rent Supplement Scheme, formerly the Rent Allowance Scheme, and I have no function in the matter. In relation to the operation of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, informed by an extensive public consultation process and an independent in-depth review, a number of amendments to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is conducting a two stage process for the selection of Local Development Strategies to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Stage one is complete but stage two is still on-going and therefore no entity has been selected to deliver LEADER in any area. Under stage one of the selection process, any entity...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I established the Galway Local Government Committee under the Local Government Act 1991 on 21 January 2015 and it commenced its work on 10 February 2015 . The Committee, which is independent in the performance of its functions, has been asked to prepare a report making recommendations with respect to whether the boundary of Galway city should be altered or whether Galway City Council and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Boundaries (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1454 and 1455 together. I announced the establishment of independent statutory committees on 19 June 2015 to review local government boundaries in Athlone, Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford. In each case, the committees have been asked to carry out a review of the boundary between the respective counties and city and county and to make recommendations with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The total funding allocation of €50.5m nationally for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability that I announced in May 2015 represents an increase of some 10% over the 2014 funding. In the case of Westmeath County Council, its total funding amount of €775,140 for 2015 is an increase of 10% on its 2014 allocation. To date, 30% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Funding (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1457, 1458 and 1509 together. A review of revised proposals and drawings provided to my Department in respect of this building development will be concluded shortly and I expect that a response will be provided to the local authority within the next fortnight.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1459 and 1460 together. Statistics on local authority housing stock, including the number of vacant social housing units for each local authority, are published by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent statistics are contained in the ‘Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2013’ which is available at the following web link: .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Grant Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: There is no legal bar to the payment of a Housing Aid for Older People Grant where a grant has been paid previously under the scheme . However , it would not be expected that the need for payment of a second grant would ordinarily occur if the initial grant-aided works are properly executed and appropriate to the needs of the applicant. The payment of a second grant may be appropriate where...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. It should be noted that the existing arrangements for all non-domestic customers are remaining in place with no changes for the time being in line with the Water Charges Plan approved by the CER . On this basis, the local authorities are continuing to bill and provide services to non-domestic water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Grant Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. The grant eligible works include the provision of heating where the household has no current heating system, as well as structural repairs and improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Pollution (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1466 and 1477 together. The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets required quality standards. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes or fittings within the property boundaries, including...