Results 5,701-5,720 of 20,817 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (26 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together. My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages and a breakdown of those in arrears ; however, the data does not provide a specific breakdown in respect of shared ownership mortgages. The statistics on local authority mortgage arrears generally are available on my...

Rent Certainty and Prevention of Homelessness Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: I will be opposing this Bill. At the outset however, I thank Deputy Ellis for providing this opportunity for Members to discuss again what they all will agree is an extremely important topic, as well as the major reforms the Government is implementing in the private rental sector in Ireland to provide rent certainty for both tenants and landlords and the wide range of actions I and my...

Rent Certainty and Prevention of Homelessness Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: I see the Deputy still can make his-----

Rent Certainty and Prevention of Homelessness Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Is it round two?

Rent Certainty and Prevention of Homelessness Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Unlike Sinn Féin, we are taking the steps that are needed to address the problems in the housing sector. They are complex and will take time. Houses take time to build. I would love to have a miracle and for them to be up immediately, but there is a time lag between the actions being taken and delivery of new housing on the ground. Sinn Féin claims the Government has created...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electromagnetic Fields Studies (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department has commissioned a study to review and report on international developments on the potential health effects of electro-magnetic fields. This study is examining international research developments in to non-ionising radiation (NIR) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) which have taken place since the publication in 2007 of a report by the then Department of Communications, Marine...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 560 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 valuation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: A revised water charging regime was announced by the Government on 19 November 2014. The capped annual charge is €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households until the end of 2018. All households now know what their capped bills will be until the end of 2018, which is particularly important for larger households or those with high usage due to medical...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax can be paid online or by post or in person in 26 local authority areas. Some 67% of vehicle owners now tax online. The annual cost of maintaining the National Vehicle and Driver File, including the online system and the technological facilitation of the collection of motor tax in local authorities, is €12.5m. The cost of administering the service via the network of motor tax...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Services Funding (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: A draft Libraries Capital Investment Programme is being developed by my Department for investment in library infrastructure over the period 2016-2021. The proposed library at Kinnegad has been identified by Westmeath County Council as a priority investment and, accordingly, will be considered in that context.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Services Staff (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is a matter for each local authority Chief Executive, for the purposes of discharging responsibilities, under section 149 of the Act, for the efficient and effective operation of his or her authority, to make such staffing and organisational arrangements as are deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions for which he...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are administered by local authorities, in this case Dublin City Council, with funding from my Department. There is no difficulty with funding availability under the schemes from my Department and I understand that Dublin City Council is in contact with the applicant in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Political Reform (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The process of parliamentary reform is an ongoing one. The Programme for Government outlined an ambitious agenda for Dáil Reform to be introduced in a phased process over the lifetime of the Government. On foot of this, since 2011 the operation of the Dáil has been steadily reformed to enhance the legislative role of elected members and improve the working of the House. The measures...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vacant Site Levy (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: There is no time limit requirement under the planning laws relating to the bringing into use of properties after their completion. However, the recently enacted Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, underutilised sites in urban areas. In the context of the Act, the term...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: General statistics on local authority housing stock, including vacant social housing units, are published annually by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent such statistics are the Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2013 which are available on the Agency’s website at the following link: www.lgma.ie/en/serviceindicators/2004to2013. My Department is providing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department has been actively supporting all local authorities, including Dublin City Council, to remediate vacant social housing units and return them to use for those on the housing waiting lists. Between 2014 and 2015, my Department has committed funding support to Dublin City Council to return 945 vacant social housing units to productive use. This is on top of the work already being...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The construction and maintenance of aviation fuel pipelines is subject to the normal planning processes provided for in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and Regulations made thereunder. Thus, planning permission is required for such development from the planning authority concerned, or An Bord Pleanála on appeal, and the process of determining whether permission should...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 590 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 valuation matters,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Recruitment (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The application to sanction this post was received by my Department on 17 June 2015 and has been approved.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (1 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Between 2011 and 2014, Mayo County Council was allocated €2 .023 million toward energy efficiency measures for their social housing stock and drew down €1.8 million of this funding.