Results 5,621-5,640 of 20,817 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: An Bord Pleanála Review (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 557 together. In July 2015, I announced details of an organisational review of An Bord Pleaná la (the Board) to be undertaken by an external independent review group who, having regard to its terms of reference, have been mandated to prepare a report to me and make recommendations to support theBoard in its operations, with a view to ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department commissioned a representative sample of local authorities in a pilot project to identify the extent of problems arising from developer-provided water services infrastructure nationally, a range of possible solutions and the potential costs involved. Based on investigations carried out in the functional areas of the local authorities participating in the pilot project, the...

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

Alan Kelly: I have recently received a submission from the Irish League of Credit Unions which contains a proposal setting out a means by which funding could be provided to Approved Housing Bodies by credit unions for the development of social housing. I welcome the willingness of credit unions to actively seek a role in financing the delivery of social housing. The submission is comprehensive and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Special Protection Areas Designation (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I understand that the Question refers to a Dublin City Council project at Dollymount, comprising a cycleway proposal as well as flood alleviation works to address anticipated higher tides and sea levels, which was originally approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2011 under section 226 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, relating to foreshore developments. The environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Provision (24 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...

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

Alan Kelly: At 31 October 2015, 2,576,900 vehicles were taxed and 97,141 vehicles were declared off the road. Details of the number of vehicles untaxed at that date are not available.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Land Acquisition (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Land Aggregation Scheme was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes. The primary purpose of the Scheme was to assist in the gradual unwinding of loans taken out by housing authorities to purchase land for the social and affordable housing investment programme. Applications to the value of some €163 million in loans...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Commission Establishment (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: In January 2015, I published a consultation paper on the establishment of an Electoral Commission and invited the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht to undertake a public consultation process on that paper and report back to me.  The Committee completed its consultations at the end of July 2015 and, I understand, is currently considering its report and...

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

Alan Kelly: The Government has approved the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin. It is intended to have the first 150 units delivered as quickly as possible in the Dublin City Council administrative area, with the City Council acting as the contracting authority. The Council is aiming to secure the delivery of an initial fast-tracked 22 of these units by...

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

Alan Kelly: The allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with its allocation scheme made in accordance with section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations. This legislation requires all housing authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions having regard to specific planning issues in respect of six planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Offices (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under section 65 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of office accommodation necessary for the general operation of a local authority is a matter for the authority concerned.

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

Alan Kelly: A total funding allocation for 2015 of €11 million 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 to address serious overcrowding, and for improvement works in lieu of the provision of local authority housing. Details of the 2015 allocations are available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (24 Nov 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rent Reviews (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: 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. Valuation matters are a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation. The Commissioner is currently conducting a programme of revaluation of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments Data (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: A National Housing Development Survey has been conducted by my Department with assistance from the Housing Agency and local authorities, annually since 2010. The survey assesses the progress of developments categorised as 'unfinished developments'. The results of the survey, the most recent of which refers to 2014,as well as an Annual Progress Report onActions to Address Unfinished Housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Review of Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 34 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The view is that it is a good idea, although it will take some time to bed it into the process. The new template from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for how Departments are to provide output indicators for 2015 which has been informed by the New Zealand guidelines is a good one. We will engage with the secretariat to do as is stated through the process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Review of Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 34 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I do not think the outcome of the general election should be allowed to get in the way. The process now in place is valuable and sensible and will yield results. My Department will adhere to it. The view across government is that it is a worthwhile approach.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Review of Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 34 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I welcome the opportunity to set out the progress made to date in 2015 in expenditure under the various programmes in my Department. The total allocation for my Department in 2015 is €1.329 billion, of which €834 million has been allocated to current expenditure programmes, while €449 million has been allocated to capital programmes. The total allocation for my...