Results 1,801-1,820 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Housing Provision: Motion [Private Members] (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: It will be implemented.

Housing Provision: Motion [Private Members] (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:"acknowledges that the economic downturn and contraction in construction activity since 2008 have created significant difficulties for many communities and individuals across Ireland; recognises the high priority which the Government has assigned to housing and homelessness issues,...

Housing Provision: Motion [Private Members] (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: More than 700 social housing units have been delivered to date thanks to this collaboration, and in excess of 1,000 units will have been delivered by the end of this year. I also wish to state that NAMA has made available virtually all of its housing stock to local authorities for social housing. However, not all of it was deemed suitable. Nevertheless, I state confidently that NAMA will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Land Transfers (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1541 of 17 September 2014 which sets out the situation in relation to the transfer of assets and liabilities from local authorities to Irish Water. As the process in ongoing at present, the information requested is not available.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Introduction (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Constitutional Amendments (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: In response to the recommendation in the First Report of the Convention on the Constitution the Government committed to holding a referendum before the end of 2015 on a proposal to amend the Constitution to provide for a voting age of 16. The Government Legislation Programme for Autumn 2014 includes provision for the necessary constitution amendment Bill to be published in 2015. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department received a submission from Dublin City Council in October 2013 proposing the introduction of an economic instrument to incentivise the development of vacant sites in urban areas. Following on from this, Action 23 of the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy – which was published in May 2014 – committed to examining the possibility of enabling local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The private rented sector is an important element of the housing market, with the proportion of households in the sector almost doubling in the period 2006-2011. I am conscious of the difficulties caused by rising rents and the problem of sourcing suitable accommodation, especially in Dublin and other urban centres. The most recent published data from the Private Residential Tenancies Board...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions in six selected planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The planning review is being informed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Any applicant for a foreshore lease or licence who wishes to obtain details in relation to their application should contact the Foreshore Unit of my Department, the details of which are provided below. Marine Planning and Foreshore, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Newtown Road, Wexford Email:

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Property Sales (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department works closely with NAMA, the Housing Agency, local authorities and approved housing bodies in relation to the delivery of social housing.Since the process began in December 2011, NAMA has identified some 5,294 residential properties controlled by its debtors and receivers under this initiative as being potentially available for social housing. Local authorities have confirmed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482, 484 and 492 together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: As announced in the Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement, all affordable housing schemes have been stood down in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Part V Review, carried out by the Housing Agency at my Department’s request, has been completed and will be submitted to Government shortly. It is anticipated that any...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 510 together. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act defines a customer as the occupier of the premises in receipt of water services. The Act also...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax is based on the construction and use of a vehicle. In order to qualify for the commercial rate of motor tax, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted for use as a goods vehicle and used solely for the conveyance of goods in the course of trade or business. The carriage of employees is permitted in a commercial vehicle provided they are employed by the registered owner of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together. The Gweedore Sewerage Scheme was included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013as a scheme to commence construction during the lifetime of the Programme. In order for it to advance to tender stage it was necessary for Donegal County Council to prepare Contract Documents for the scheme and submit them to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. The installation programme commenced in August 2013 and will be implemented nationally as quickly as possible. Up to 300,000 households may not be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 499 together. In advance of the introduction of domestic water charges, the Government made certain decisions on 6 May 2014 relating to the structure of water charges including, inter alia, a free allowance per household and an additional free allowance for children on the same qualifying conditions as the Child Benefit payment from the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provided for the transfer of water services functions from the city and county councils to Irish Water. Irish Water assumed responsibility for public water services on 1 January 2014. Water meters installed by Irish Water under the domestic water metering programme remain the property of Irish Water. Section 32(1)(f) and section 72(1)(b)(i) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Management (23 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: In accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012, a new Disbursement Scheme was approved by Government in December 2013 and was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 18 December 2013. The 2012 Act also provides for the preparation of an Action Plan each year to give effect to the Scheme. A Dormant Accounts Action Plan for 2014 was adopted on 1 July 2014. The plan will...