Results 5,141-5,160 of 20,797 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: My Department purchases a considerable range of business- related goods and services from a large number of suppliers in any given year. As it is unclear what information is being sought in the Question, I am unable to provide a reply in this instance. If the Deputy provides additional clarification in regard to the matter raised in the Question, a further reply will be provided.

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

Alan Kelly: My Department publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics on its website and details of the social housing units provided in individual local authority areas for the period requested can be found on the ‘Social Housing Output’ tab in the ‘Social and Affordable Housing’ statistics table at the following link: . General statistics on local authority...

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

Alan Kelly: Social housing, and in particular increasing supply to deal with pent-up demand, is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020in November 2014. The Strategy is a comprehensive response to the need for social housing and targets the provision of over 110,000 social...

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

Alan Kelly: My Department received an enquiry from Sligo County Council but has not received a formal request for financial assistance in respect of costs associated with the recent visit of members of the British royal family. I have no plans to provide funding for such costs. Lead responsibility in relation to the visit rests with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Lead...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1520 to 1525, inclusive, together. I established the Cork Local Government Committee on 15 January 2015 to carry out an objective review of local government arrangements in Cork city and county, including the boundary of Cork city, and to make recommendations with respect to whether the boundary of the city should be altered or whether Cork City Council...

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

Alan Kelly: My Department has an Internal Audit function established by charter which was approved by the Accounting Officer and the Department’s Audit Committee.  The Internal Audit Unit works under the direction of the Accounting Officer, to whom it has direct access, and the Audit Committee. The Unit is authorised by the Accounting Officer to carry out a comprehensive programme of internal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Bituminous Fuel Ban (23 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuel (or 'smoky coal ban' as it is commonly known) was first introduced in Dublin in 1990 in response to severe episodes of winter smog that resulted from the widespread use of smoky coal for residential heating. The ban proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels in Dublin. As well as bringing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (23 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The financial allocations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), comprising funding from both the Exchequer and the Environment Fund, for the years specified is set out in the table below. It should be noted that the figures do not include income generated by the EPA itself from licensing fees, etc. Funding to the Agency increased between 2007 and 2009, owing to the assignment of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments (23 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, Tipperary County Councils; and Cork City Council. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (23 Sep 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 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Quality (23 Sep 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Quality (23 Sep 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 instruments at the monitoring stations calculate hourly average values for each pollutant. These values are picked up by the telemetry system at between one minute and thirty five minutes past the hour.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Rents (24 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, housing authorities are responsible for determining the rent for their social housing dwellings, subject to complying with the principle s that the rent payable should be related to household income and that low-income households should pay a lower proportion of income in rent. I have no function in relation to the setting of rents by any individual...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (24 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I announced funding totalling €20.184 million in May 2015 to support all local authorities to deliver an initial 2015 target of returning 1,104 vacant social housing units back to productive use. Details of those allocations are set out in table following, in respect of which claims for over 500 units have been made to date to my Department. Additional units will have been completed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors Data (24 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: 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. The draft register is published on 1November each year and is generally available for examination at post offices, Garda stations and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Remuneration (24 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Bonus payments are not made to staff members in my Department or to staff in any of the non-commercial semi state agencies under the aegis of my Department.  Irish Water is the only commercial semi-state Company under the aegis of my Department and operates the Ervia pay model. This model provides for a Performance Related Award (PRA) which is an element of “pay at...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (24 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am assuming that windscreen tax is a reference to motor tax. Enforcement of motor tax, insurance and roadworthiness obligations and the instruments used to facilitate enforcement measures including the application of number plate recognition technology are a matter for An Garda Siochána. Any changes to the requirement for display of the discs referred to on vehicle windscreens would...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (24 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 214 together. The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, which was enacted in July and commenced earlier t his month, provides for the introduction of a vacant site levy to encourage the development of vacant, under utilised sites in designated urban areas with a view to breathing life back into suchareas, thereby addressing urban decay and bringing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (24 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. The administration of these schemes, including the receipt of applications and their assessment and approval, as well as the payment of grants to applicants, is a matter for individual local authorities and, therefore, detailed information in relation to waiting lists for each authority is not available in my Department. The support...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (24 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together. The allocation of social housing supports is a matter for each housing authority in accordance with its allocation scheme made under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. My Department does not hold information on the allocation of social housing to individual households or groups on the waiting list. The results of the...