Results 1,541-1,560 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Harbours and Piers Maintenance (15 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: The application by Sligo County Council to carry out dredging at Sligo Harbour was granted approval in principle on 20 May 2014. The Chief State Solicitor’s Office has been instructed to prepare the requisite legal documentation. A delay in the decision arose due to a late response from one of the statutory consultees during the environmental assessment of the application.

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: It would not be the first time.

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Senators for their good wishes. I started off in this House and it is always good to return. Let me commence by saying that the Bill was primarily developed by previous Ministers, particularly the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, and I compliment them on their good work. As Senator Walsh will know, I always accept good ideas and always will, but no one has a monopoly on them....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (15 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Senators for giving me this opportunity to update the House on the current position on the new social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and, in particular, the position of the North Leitrim Women's Centre and the National Collective of Community-based Women's Networks under the programme. The proposals outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (15 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Senators for appreciating the fact that I only inherited responsibility for this matter in recent days. I do not know who tendered for the contract and neither would it be appropriate for me to know. I am also not aware whether the groups in question submitted tenders, either individually or as part of consortia. The Senators have identified an issue with specific women's...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 174 together. Under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Three...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Boundaries (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: The procedures governing boundary alterations are set out in Part V of the Local Government Act 1991 and in the Local Government (Boundary Alteration) Regulations 1996. Under these provisions, it is open to a local authority to initiate a proposal for the alteration of its boundaries. This involves the preparation of a formal proposal by the authority concerned including the setting out of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 170 and 171 together. The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. A new round of funding was advertised for applications earlier this year. Pobal was asked to undertake an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. The Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme. In 2013, the Housing Agency was asked to conduct a standalone review of the Shared Ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Applications (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: An application for provisional approval in this case was received by my Department on 9 June 2014 and this provisional approval was granted the following day. My Department is awaiting a further submission for full funding approval once an appropriate approved housing body has been identified by the Housing Agency and the proposal progresses to that stage.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. The LAGs are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. In compliance with a European...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Eligibility (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP) provides grants of up to € 8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: 321 units of accommodation were originally identified by NAMA in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown area as being potentially suitable for social housing. Following that initial identification, 142 units were subsequently confirmed as being unavailable while 49 were considered unsuitable by reference to sustainable planning and housing policy or were located in areas with no demand. By the end...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Residential Institutions Issues (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: On 14 May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. The Strategy contains 75 Actions in total and my Department, together with the Housing Agency, will be involved in the delivery of over 30 of those. Under Action 8 of Construction 2020, a Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014; to assist in its development, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commencement of Legislation (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: The information requested is not readily available in my Department and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and effort. However, on the website of the Irish Statute Book, there is an “Acts of the Oireachtas” page provides access to each Act. Once a particular Act is selected, details of the commencement status of each section of the Act are...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I am.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I cannot accept these amendments, as a blanket provision permitting a local authority tenant to have an authorised delegate in all dealings with the local authority would hinder and delay the normal process of landlord-tenant communications that tenants are generally well able to handle themselves. It should be noted that housing authorities engage with third parties speaking on behalf of...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: In respect of amendment No. 3 and the second part of amendment No. 4, as has been explained at every stage of consideration of the Bill in the Houses, in accepting the amendments we would duplicate an existing provision in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. I will, therefore, not accept the amendments. Section 13 of the 2009 Act provides that the capital moneys accruing to a...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I have little else to say. To respond to Senator Aideen Hayden, it is a point we can consider in the future. In many ways, it is aspirational, but it could be welcomed. A voluntary code, in moving to a regulatory framework as regards AHBs, is something that is necessary. A huge volume of work has been done, but there is a necessity for it to move into a regulatory process in order that we...