Results 5,661-5,680 of 20,817 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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: To be clear, it was 2013 when the last analysis was carried out which means we are dealing with 2013 figures. There have been FOI requests and all of the figures have been put together. However, such analysis does not factor in a number of issues such as people being on multiple lists in Dublin so there is duplication. Also, people may have left the list since 2013. These are the only...

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: Yes, everyone.

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: A Deputy asked me what is the Department's housing priority. In 2015, 90% of the overall increase in capital spending across government went to housing. That shows how important it was that we reversed the trend of depending on Part V and all of the rest. I shall address the issues raised about the Department's turnaround processing times by Deputy Cowen, who has left, Deputy Stanley,...

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 thank the Deputy. Finally, I shall bring in a new framework for the recoupment of costs for capital build projects. Basically, it is a framework that will pay for technical and administrative staff thus avoiding toing and froing between the Department and local authorities. All of the initiatives are welcome. A Deputy asked about the level of refusals. We have figures on the level of...

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: No, they do not.

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: We have the figures and I ask members to please bear with me.

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: For some reason the lowest rate of refusal is in South Dublin County Council at a rate of 5%.

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: In most local authorities the rate is between 30% and 40%. South Dublin County Council is the only local authority that offers choice-based lettings, a matter to which Deputy Brian Stanley referred. A system of choice-based lettings is working really well and I encourage everyone across the political spectrum to support the concept. It has been rolled out in Cork but only since 2 November....

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 very quick answer is that it engages with the Department and that there is no issue.

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 Deputy can come to me if he wants.

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: Of course. The answer to Deputy Brian Stanley's first question is "No". It is the first any of us has heard of it, but these rumours do the rounds.

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: It is not something that has come across my desk. The Deputy's second question was related to the powers of the local authority to take over estates.

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: Yes; they have powers to do so already.

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 understand.

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 understand the issues involved. Based on advice we have taken, there are constitutional issues in finding out if there is someone who has a claim on it. We have to obey the Constitution, although I accept the Deputy's point.

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: Of course.

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: Essentially, it will have to be streamlined. The Deputy's point is well made.

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 outlined a load of changes we had made in engaging with local authorities to shorten and streamline the process involved by getting rid of red tape, allowing approvals and devolving responsibility for the allocation of funding, etc. As part of the process, we will have a look at this issue also.

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: We will provide the committee with documentation on choice-based lettings and refusals, including the reasons they are being refused and the numbers involved.

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: Obviously, we do not have access to NAMA's information, but the vast bulk of what it has available is occupied. Earlier I indicated what NAMA had delivered. We can get a breakdown of where it has delivered it, if the Deputy so requires it, but, as I said, I do not have access to NAMA's information. However, I understand the vast majority of what it has available it is now occupied.