Results 5,961-5,980 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I will announce 2016 funding allocations to local authorities shortly in respect of the continuing programme of insulation retrofitting for social housing. Funding of some €8 2 million has been provided from 2013 to 2015 to support the authorities in improving the energy performance of older local authority housing stock, resulting in improved energy efficiency and comfort levels, and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not provide funding to local authorities in respect of the routine turnaround of social housing stock; this would be a matter for each local authority as part of their normal responsibilities for maintaining their social housing properties. In 2014 my Department introduced a new, target-driven programme to support local authorities to return vacant properties to productive...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473 and 474 together. As noted in the Programme for Government Annual Report 2016, over 13,000 units were delivered across all social housing programmes in 2015, representing an 86% increase on the 7,000 units delivered in 2014. While this represents very tangible progress, in order to deal comprehensively with the housing list, further ambitious targets will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Programme for Government 2011to 2016 included various reforms to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector. Public Service Agreements have been the primary vehicles used to implement these reforms. Consultative forums and other resolution mechanisms are an inherent and integral feature in the delivery of any reform programme. Where the need has arisen, resolution...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: A new water charging regime of annual capped charges was announced by the Government on 19 November 2014. The charges structure was revised with a view to making it simpler and fairer, providing more clarity and certainty to households. The capped annual charge is €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households until the end of 2018. All households now...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Government announced in 2011 the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the Shared Ownership Scheme, given the changes in the property and lending markets. There are no plans at this time to develop a new shared ownership scheme. The terms and conditions governing the operation of standard annuity mortgages provided by local authorities to qualifying first time buyers...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: My Department, with the assistance of the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and the Local Authority Housing Loans Management Group, has been examining the operation of the Shared Ownership Schemes for existing borrowers. The issues arising with Shared Ownership Schemes require careful consideration and expert financial data analysis. Arising from the findings of the examination to...

Seanad: Local Government Review: Statements (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Hopefully, the Cathaoirleach will not be saying that to me in a few months.

Seanad: Local Government Review: Statements (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I thank the House for inviting me to discuss this important topic. I thank everyone in the House, including Senators from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Sinn Féin, for the cross-party support for this motion. It is admirable and should be acknowledged. This provides me, as the Minister responsible for local government, with an important opportunity to update the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Retirements (27 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: In the last four years there have been no cases taken against my Department by civil servants objecting to a requirement to retire at the age of 65. My Department does not have information relating to any such cases in respect of public servants employed by bodies under the Department’s aegis; this is a matter for the organisations concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (27 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: During 2015, my Department established a working group involving key stakeholders in the rural water sector to address the 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 Group...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Drainage Schemes (27 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 464 of 19 January 2016 in which I set out the roles and responsibilities of statutory bodies with regard to the maintenance of rivers and waterways. The position in this regard remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (27 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter, in the first instance, for Chief Executives, to ensure that the appropriate staffing and service levels are delivered and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (27 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: Extensive discussions with the tyre industry through the establishment of a Tyres Working Group have taken place since the publication of the Producer Responsibility Initiative Review Report on Tyres and Waste Tyres in November 2013. Recently, the National Executive Council and the members of the Irish Tyre Industry Association voted to re-engage in the discussions surrounding the new...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (27 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not provide a scheme to assist in the renovation and modernisation of a private dwelling to make it habitable in the circumstances described. Support provided by my Department in respect of refurbishment or adaptations to houses are primarily in respect of social housing. In the case of private houses, the main programme of support funded by my Department is via the local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (27 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together. The Urban Development Grant Scheme announced last week, which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is administered in Ireland by the two Regional Operational Programme Managing Authorities, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly. The approach adopted by the two...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (28 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including providing necessary housing supports, fostering community and rural development in partnership with local government and other local development bodies, and protecting the environment. 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: Housing Data (28 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 339, 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. The Exchequer...