Results 5,541-5,560 of 20,817 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (11 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have not at any time directed the Dublin local authorities not to rezone anymore land for housing. However, Minister of State Coffey and I jointly wrote to the Chief Executives of the four Dublin Local Authorities on 10 June 2015 in the context of their role in preparing and finalising the development plans for their areas. At that time my Department’s analysis and that of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Government waste policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in the EU’s Waste Framework Directive. A number of specific measures have been, and will continue to be, introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated in the State and to increase the segregation of waste which cannot be prevented in line with Government policy . The introduction of pay by weight charges for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 190, inclusive, together. A total funding allocation for 2015 of €11m nationally was made to support local authorities in undertaking adaptations and extensions to their social housing stock to meet the needs of tenants with a disability or t o address serious overcrowding, and for improvement works in lieu of provision of local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 135 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that before the start of each local financial year the chief executive shall prepare and submit to the elected council a report indicating the programme of capital projects proposed by the local authority for the forthcoming and the following two local financial years having regard to the availability of resources. This report may be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides the legislative basis for the local authority budget process. Section 103 of the 2001 Act provides for the Local Authority budget meeting and states that a local authority may amend the draft budget by resolution, and may adopt the budget with or without amendment. It is a matter for each local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Resolution Processes (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government has committed to taking decisive action to address the mortgage arrears challenge, seeking to ensure that a full range of options is available to distressed borrowers and to keep as many people in their homes as possible. The Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme is now well established as part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Funding (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Housing authority administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis and funding from my Department for homeless services is also provided on a regional basis. Kildare County Council is the lead authority for the Mid-East Region, which also includes Wicklow County Council and Meath County Council. As lead authority for the region, my Department engages with Kildare County...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (12 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under a Ministerial Direction, which applies until 31 January 2016, key local authorities are required to prioritise homeless and other vulnerable households in the allocation of tenancies under their control. The four Dublin local authorities have been directed to allocate 50% of all available dwellings to such households, while the local authorities in counties Cork, Galway, Limerick and...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:acknowledges that the construction sector and the housing market were profoundly affected by the economic downturn, consequently creating a significant shortfall in both market and social housing supply; welcomes the economic recovery and increase in job creation underway for...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Deputy Coppinger need not worry as I know what she said.

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputies for proposing this motion. I welcome the fact that Members have raised the issue of housing and homelessness once again, ensuring this important topic can be discussed tonight. Homelessness and housing are top of my and the Government’s agenda. Every day I am working with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, to deliver real and tangible solutions...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I would like to take this opportunity to put on the record of the House the excellent work of the NGO sector in meeting the challenges on a day-to-day basis at the front line of homelessness service delivery. The full truth of the homelessness situation is that there are many stories of desperation. There are also stories, however, of inspiration, of hope, of people and families rising...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: -----so it can politically benefit and validate its flawed theory that there is no hope for people, that communities are not capable of rising above poverty or that people cannot rise out of homelessness. The AAA Members are wrong and I saw it again just today.

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Just like it did with the property tax, just like SYRIZA, just like it did on water charges, the AAA walks away from causes it leads when the going gets tough. I am delighted Deputy Paul Murphy saw sense to pay his property tax.

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I noted, with great humour, that Deputy Paul Murphy had to have a meeting with his AAA colleagues to get permission to pay his property tax. I remember when this Dáil started in 2011, there was a supposed new dawn with the United Left Alliance.

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: When politics is the art of the possible, the AAA hides behind ideological theory rather than deal with inconvenient facts. Constructive opposition and debate is welcome. There is an onus on those who criticise to propose something workable, however. It does not take a legal qualification to see where these proposals will fall foul of the Constitution. How exactly is it going to help...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Of course, the AAA has no real interest in helping homelessness, only revelling in misery. I have not seen any budgetary proposal to increase the spending on homeless services for people in dire need. The Government, however, has increased spending on homelessness by approximately 40% in recent years.

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: All told, this Government will provide over 6,000 new social housing units this year between building, buying, refurbishing and leasing, with another 4,000 people being newly accommodated through the HAP, housing assistance payment, scheme. When one is in government, one has to deal in solutions. Members opposite criticise. We analyse, prioritise and solve. People benefit from our...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government has rightly prioritised the recovery of the economy and increasing employment. The economy is now the fastest growing in Europe, with growth of 5.2% GDP seen in 2014 set to be outdone this year by growth of over 6%. This fast growth, taken together with unemployment now being below 9% for the first time since 2008, is a phenomenal achievement, and one of which I and my party...

Housing and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Nothing.