Results 5,561-5,580 of 20,817 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: While the supply of housing is taking time, progress is being made by the Government, local authorities and approved housing bodies, AHB, sector. I met a gentleman today by the name of Patrick Kinsella. The Government, through the Peter McVerry Trust, acquired units that allowed him to get the keys to his new home, which is a five minute walk from where I am standing. He had spent more...

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

Alan Kelly: They never did it. The homelessness debate is complex and there are major issues in many aspects of housing policy, both public and private. It will probably surprise many of the Deputies opposite to hear that more than 1,000 social units will be purchased or built directly by local authorities this year. It will also probably surprise them to hear that approximately 3,000 new leasing...

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

Alan Kelly: I am glad to have had the opportunity again to address the House on these issues, which are so important. The issues of housing and homelessness are absolutely the top priority in my Department and ones we face head-on. This country is dealing with the legacy of a property bubble that contributed to an economic crisis, which in turn led to massively reduced budgets for key social services,...

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

Alan Kelly: There are thousands more people working.

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

Alan Kelly: That is rubbish. Go back and look at the research and analysis done a year ago.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I understand that the extent of the CO2discrepancies is the subject of ongoing evaluation. I am not in a position to comment further at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 581 together. In November 2014 the Government approved the Social Housing Strategy 2020which sets out a strategic framework for meeting the State's social housing needs to the end of the decade.The Strategy includes a commitment tocommence work on a financial vehicle, to be known as the Strategic Housing Fund, to raise funding for the social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Approved housing bodies (AHBs) such as Respond, Túath and Clúid are organisations approved under section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 to provide social housing support in conjunction with local authorities. Since the late 1980s, AHBs have been providing social housing under various capital funding schemes underpinned by mortgages. More recently, a scheme was...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department is working across a number of fronts in regard to our responsibility for the objective set out in the National Positive Ageing Strategyof facilitating older people to live in well-maintained, affordable, safe and secure homes, which are suitable to their physical and social needs. The provision of social housing to meet the accommodation needs of older people, and other people...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (changed to Ervia in accordance with SI 287 of 2014), conforming to the conditions contained in the Act and registered under the Companies Acts. Section 5 of the Act provides that the subsidiary shall be known, in the Irish language as Uisce Éireann, and in the English...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554, 571 and 582 together. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government has enabled and facilitated the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) in playing an important role in the delivery of housing supply generally, and social housing in particular.  In that context NAMA affords public bodies first option on the acquisition of land and property required for demonstrable public purposes. In the context of social housing delivery, NAMA has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability is administered by local authorities with funding from my Department. Grant eligible works are generally those carried out to the fabric of a building, such as structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, sanitary facilities, the provision of heating and other...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: In order to vote at an election or a referendum a voter must be registered in the appropriate register of electors for that election or referendum. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for the registration of voters where they are ‘ordinarily resident’. Depending on the circumstances, the registration authority may consider it appropriate to register a homeless person at a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vehicle Registration (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing)(Amendment) Regulations 1992 provides that a licensing authority shall issue a licence if it is satisfied that the licence applied for is the appropriate licence for the vehicle specified. The processing of individual applications for motor tax is a matter for the licensing authority concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have not yet received the report of the Galway Local Government Review Committee. However, I will give full consideration to all the details and recommendations contained in the report when it has been received and it would also be intended to publish the report.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Industrial Relations (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: In parallel with the Lansdowne Road talks, the Local Government Sector agreed to look at the question of the payment of fees for apprenticeships and also to review the pay and conditions of the General Operatives in the Dublin Authorities in relation to those applying to general operatives nationwide. Both of these issues have been referred to the normal industrial relations mechanism...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the Social Housing Strategy, there are substantial targets and funding resources for the delivery by local authorities of social housing, including for both Longford and Westmeath authorities. In April last, I issued social housing targets and provisional funding allocations to all local authorities, to be invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 32 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, sets out the general obligation to obtain planning permission in relation to development and section 33 of the Act provides that regulations may be made in relation to the procedure and administration regarding applications for permission to include, inter alia, public consultation. Article 18 and 19 of the Planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Funding (17 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: A total funding allocation for 2015 of €50.5m nationally was made for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, an increase of 10% on the previous year. My Department is in ongoing contact with local authorities regarding these schemes and opportunities will be taken, if they arise, for redistribution of funding between authorities that have...