Results 15,001-15,020 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Living Wage (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The Living Wage is voluntary, has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement; it cannot be imposed on suppliers or contractors. My Department has consequently had no discussions with suppliers or service contractors in regard to the rate of pay of their employees. Such operational arrangements for agencies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including protecting the environment, providing necessary housing supports and fostering community and rural development in partnership with local government and other local development bodies. 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: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: The provision of social housing services is a matter for each local authority as the housing authority for its area. Local authorities must identify their area’s social housing need and respond as required. I have set ambitious targets under the Social Housing Strategy for all local authorities and, based on proposals they have made, I have to date announced almost half a billion...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (13 Jan 2016)

Alan Kelly: I have no function in relation to the removal of fallen leaves from footpaths and walkways. However, I understand that local authorities target some of their street-cleaning services to sweep leaves from streets, residential roads and paths during the autumn period.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant Administration (17 Dec 2015)

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. Regulations will be made in due course under Section 5 of the Water Services Act 2014 to set down the particulars of the 2016 grant scheme including the application process and eligibility criteria. It is intended that payment of the grant to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 595 and 597 together. Irish Water's costs are funded through a mix of revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, third party finance (including bank lending and capital markets facilities) and State support which may be in the form of both equity and subvention. The main aspects of the Irish Water funding model are set out in a detailed fact sheet...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water is being funded by a combination of domestic and non-domestic water charges, Government support and the raising of debt on capital markets. The main aspects of the Irish Water funding model are set out in a detailed fact sheet published on my Department’s website at the first link below, and for 2015, the total billed income is projected at €500m, of which domestic...

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

Alan Kelly: The information requested is set out in the following table. Year Gross Motor Tax Receipts (€) 2013 37,668,079 2014 37,569,748 2015 (to end November) 33,711,959

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

Alan Kelly: My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, including protecting the environment, providing necessary housing supports and fostering community and rural development in partnership with local government and other local development bodies. 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: Wastewater Treatment (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) generally requires that all agglomerations greater than 2,000 population equivalent are provided with collecting systems for urban waste water and that collected waste water receives the appropriate level of treatment before discharge. The Directive also provides that where the establishment of a collecting system is not justified...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed: - the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future windenergy developments, - a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Freedom of Information Fees (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The total amount my Department has received in fees relating to Freedom of Information requests in 2014 is €3,242.05 and to date in 2015 is €1,555.31.

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

Alan Kelly: All political appointments to my Department have been made in accordance with the Guidelines and Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dáil. Under the Guidelines, the role of Personal Assistants and Personal Secretaries is to provide assistance to or for the office holder who selected them for appointment. In the case of Special Advisers, the duties are set out in Section...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Process RIA (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The information sought will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government’s climate change policy is entirely consistent with the outcome of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, which includes a requirement for Parties to assess, every five years, their progress towards meeting their climate commitments and to submit new plans to strengthen them. Ireland has already made its commitment to the international process as part of the European Union,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Divisions Establishment (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The constituencies which will apply at the forthcoming general election are specified in the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act, 2013. I am not aware of any disputes, or differences of legal opinion, in relation to the definition of the constituencies of Wicklow and Dún Laoghaire specified in that Act. The Wicklow constituency is specified as consisting of the county of...

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

Alan Kelly: Enforcement of motor tax and the instruments used to facilitate enforcement measures, including the application of number plate recognition technology to pursue the non-payment of tax, are matters for An Garda Síochána. Any changes to the requirement for display of motor tax discs on vehicle windscreens would need to be considered in the context of any potential application of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: The package of commitments on mortgage arrears announced by Government in May 2015 included a number of amendments to the Approved Housing Body Mortgage to Rent Scheme which will enable more properties to qualify for the Scheme, and make it more flexible and accessible to borrowers. The principal amendment to the scheme is to increase the valuation thresholds applicable which should enable...

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

Alan Kelly: Irish Water does not currently have a credit rating from international credit agencies. The Company’s Business Plan for 2015 to 2021 sets out its strategy to secure a rating by 2019, based on establishing a strong record in relation to its financials, funding and capital investment by that time.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (17 Dec 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 requires Irish Water to seek the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform) to borrow money. Following the commencement of...