Results 5,901-5,920 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: House Prices (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: A shortage of supply is at the heart of the current challenges in the housing sector and the Government is addressing this on a number of fronts. A number of important measures have been taken already aimed at improving housing viability and increasing supply. The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, which commenced in September 2015, introduced a number of reforms in relation to, inter...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The €5 million Humanitarian Assistance Scheme for Small Businesses is being administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Defence. My Department, therefore, has no responsibility for the management or administration of this Scheme, which is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The number of private vehicles taxed at 31 December 2015 is set out below by year of vehicle registration between 1995 and 2015. Year of vehicle registration No . of vehicles taxed at31 December 2015 2015 115,957 2014 92,951 2013 77,665 2012 93,507 2011 113,478 2010 118,555 2009 85,883 2008 182,668 2007 178,177 2006 170,203 2005 160,976 2004 136,071 ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The amount of motor tax, including arrears, collected from private cars in 2015 is set out in the table below by year of registration for vehicles registered between 1995 and 2015. Total gross receipts from motor tax in 2015 were €1,124,351,805. The total below represents just under 82% of that figure. Year of vehicle registration Motor tax paid in 2015 (€) 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 869 to 874, inclusive, together. My Department provides funding under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. There are three separate grants available and local authorities receive an overall allocation, with the responsibility for the apportionment between the three grants being a matter for each authority. Information...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: While my Department had an initial co-ordinating role in the collation of details of damage to public infrastructure resulting from the recent severe weather and flooding, it is a matter for Departments and Offices to liaise directly with the Local Authorities on funding for infrastructure damage which falls under their remit. I note that the public infrastructure damage reported by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Since the publication of the Social Housing Strategy my Department has intensified its engagement with local authorities, ensuring their capacity and preparedness for delivery of the ambitious targets to 2020. I have met with the Chief Executives and Directors of Housing of all local authorities to ensure that they have the support they need to deliver on the Strategy. In addition to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Government has enabled and facilitated the National Assets 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 that context, NAMA has had ongoing engagement and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: During 2015, my Department established a working group involving key stakeholders in the rural water sector to address the overall development of the rural water sector within the overall water sector reform programme to ensure that the programme responds effectively to current and future needs. Local authorities, the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water, the National Federation of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Living Wage (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Living Wage is voluntary, has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement; it cannot be imposed on suppliers or contractors. My Department has consequently had no discussions with suppliers or service contractors in regard to the rate of pay of their employees. Such operational arrangements for agencies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including protecting the environment, providing necessary housing supports and fostering community and rural development in partnership with local government and other local development bodies. In order to deliver on this broad business agenda, my Department allocates significant resources to a wide range of organisations, including local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The provision of social housing services is a matter for each local authority as the housing authority for its area. Local authorities must identify their area’s social housing need and respond as required. I have set ambitious targets under the Social Housing Strategy for all local authorities and, based on proposals they have made, I have to date announced almost half a billion...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I have no function in relation to the removal of fallen leaves from footpaths and walkways. However, I understand that local authorities target some of their street-cleaning services to sweep leaves from streets, residential roads and paths during the autumn period.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant (14 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Water Conservation Grant is a key element of the Government's drive to promote conservation and more sustainable use of water services in the home. Regulations will be made in due course under Section 5 of the Water Services Act 2014 to set down the particulars of the 2016 grant scheme including the application process and eligibility criteria. It is intended that payment of the grant to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ambulance Service Provision (14 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: In December 2014, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published a report on Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Services, which highlighted the need for greater cooperation at all levels between the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB). The report proposed changes to call-taking and ambulance dispatch, as well as overall clinical governance in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Tax Exemptions (14 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 236 together. The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provided the legislative basis for the Household Charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date is liable to pay the Household Charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The Charge has operated on a self-assessment basis with an owner...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (14 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The classification of public sector bodies is reviewed by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on an on-going basis in line with relevant European System of Accounts regulations. Following receipt of the Eurostat decision last year, the CSO indicated that the classification of Irish Water involved complex technical decisions and the CSO would be engaging with Eurostat through the appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (19 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The national targets in respect of social housing have been set out in the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020, along with details of the financial resources to deliver those targets. The Strategy provides a comprehensive response to the need for social housing and targets the provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (19 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax for goods vehicles is based on the unladen weight of the vehicle. Reductions in motor tax for goods vehicles announced in Budget 2016 took effect for licences taken out with a commencement date on or after 1 January 2016. While the top band was reduced from €5,195 to €900, tapering reductions applied to the lower weight bands, with the exception of the two lowest...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Process (19 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1514 of 22 September 2015 which sets out the position in this matter.