Results 14,981-15,000 of 20,817 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Rates income data are published by local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Exemptions (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Local Government Act 1946 provides that where a property is unoccupied on the date of the making of the rate, the owner becomes liable for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: In November 2014, the Government approved the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which sets out a strategic framework for meeting the State’s social housing needs to the end of the decade. The Strategy includes a commitment to commence work on a financial vehicle, to be known as the Strategic Housing Fund, to raise funding for the social housing sector. The financial vehicle will be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 664 and 665 together. The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2016 was published in late 2011 and the associated National Implementation Framework was published in July 2012. These are joint publications by my Department and the Department of Health and set out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Court of Appeal ruling referred to was made on 21 October 2015 and had the effect that from that date articulated goods vehicles fell to be taxed at the general haulage tractor rate. This category attracts an annual rate of €333. The Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Act 2015 was subsequently enacted to provide for such vehicles to be reclassified as goods vehicles and to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Management (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 132 of the Local Government Act 2001 states that it is the duty of every chief executive of a local authority to carry into effect all lawful directions of the elected council in relation to the reserved functions of the local authority. Furthermore, it is the duty of the chief executive to advise and assist the elected council, corporate policy group, strategic policy committees and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Living Wage (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Payment of salaries to staff of my Department is made in line with pay scales approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. If a minimum payment of €11.50 an hour were introduced, the additional costs for my Department are estimated to be in the region of €10,850 (not including Employer’s PRSI). This figure reduces as and when the staff concerned progress...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 15 December 2015, I published the Independent Planning Review of the performance of planning functions having regard to specific planning issues raised in respect of six planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) prepared by McCabe Durney Barnes, together with my Department’s Response Report to the recommendations. This...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (16 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: As Irish Water is a commercial utility and a subsidiary of Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis Éireann), formed and registered under the Companies Act, neither I, as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, nor my predecessor has had any role in relation to the procurement by Irish Water of external resources or service providers. These are operational matters for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (16 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not provide specific funding allocations for public lighting. The provision and maintenance of public lighting is the responsibility of each individual local authority. Local authorities receive income from a variety of sources including grants from Central Government, Local Property Tax proceeds, commercial rates and other locally-raised charges. It is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to allocate funding of up to €69.5 million to local authorities in the areas worst affected by the first phase of severe weather between 13 December 2013 and 6 January 2014. The purpose of this was to support communities by restoring amenities, facilities and other public infrastructure which had been damaged. In relation to funding sought by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Forbairt na nOileán (16 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Níl aon athrú ó fhreagra an 8ú lá de mhí na Nollag uaim i dtaobh fhorbairt na Cé ar Inis Oírr faoin gClár Bonneagair agus Infheistíochta Caipitil, 2016-2021.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Consultative Group (15 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department has held a number briefing and update meetings on water sector reform issues for senior officials and Ministerial advisors from relevant Government Departments, generally associated with key milestones in the water sector reform programme. These meetings, which are also attended by Irish Water, are usually held in Government Buildings. Copies of these minutes have already...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Flood Prevention Measures (15 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: As the Deputy will be aware the Government decided on 8 December to allocate €5m to provide emergency humanitarian support to small businesses that have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been flooded arising from the impact of Storm Desmond. The scheme is being overseen by the Department of Defence and is being administered by the Irish Red Cross. Details in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Flood Relief Schemes (15 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Flood relief works are a matter for the relevant local authority and, at national level, the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant Administration (15 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015 govern the operation of the 2015 Water Conservation Grant scheme. The date for registration with Irish Water for the purposes of eligibility for payment of the grant in 2015 was set at 30 June 2015. The deadline for submitting a completed application for the g rant in 2015 was 8 October 2015, which was further extended to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Noise Pollution Legislation (15 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: National noise legislation does not directly address the problem of busking near residential areas. Although noise policy is a responsibility of my Department, the making of bye-laws under the Local Government Act 2001 is entirely a matter for local authorities. Enforcement of bye-laws is therefore a matter for local authorities or the Garda Síochána, as appropriate. I...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Oversight and Audit Commission Remit (15 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) was established under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 to provide oversight of the local government sector. The specific functions assigned to NOAC are set out in section 126C of the Local Government Act 2001 (as inserted by section 61 of the 2014 Act) and include scrutiny of the performance of any local government body against...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (15 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Responsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided for group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual group scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (15 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: There will be no adverse implications for the quantum of private housing stock in Dublin as a result of the introduction of updated planning guidelines on apartment developments, because these guidelines will apply only to new build projects going through the planning process. The updated guidelines I propose to publish shortly are intended to address difficulties in the construction of...