Results 14,861-14,880 of 20,817 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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: Water Quality (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Moy estuary is monitored as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) national Water Framework Directive monitoring programme. Under this programme the EPA assesses general physico-chemical parameters (nutrients, oxygen, temperature, salinity) and biological quality elements (phytoplankton, macroalgae and angiosperms). In addition, Inland Fisheries Ireland assesses fish...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant Data (26 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. On the basis of the administration of the 2015 grant scheme, a figure of €110 million has been provided for the 2016 grant scheme in the 2016 Revised Estimates for Public Services.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (26 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 and 468 together. The new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses came into operation on 1 January 2016 in accordance with the provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. In November 2015 local authorities were circulated with details of...

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

Alan Kelly: As announced in Budget 2015, the moratorium on recruitment has been lifted throughout the Local Authority sector. 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 authority for which he or she is responsible. Overall staffing levels are agreed through a...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (21 Jan 2016)

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. Licensing authorities have an obligation under Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing)(Amendment)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Arrears Rate (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: 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 Department’s website at: by clicking...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Upgrade (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Payments Plan Implementation (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Government’s National Payments Planwas launched in April 2013 with the objective of reducing the cost of Ireland’s payment system through the increased use of more efficient payment systems to improve competitiveness and efficiency. In September 2013, ‘ eDay ’ was launched and gave businesses and public sector bodies 12 months to prepare for the smooth...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (21 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I and my colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, met with the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) on 1 December 2015 to discuss a submission containing a proposal setting out a means by which funding could be provided to Approved Housing Bodies, by credit unions, for the development of social housing. My Department has since had a further meeting with the ILCU to address...