Results 15,521-15,540 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Protection Agency Investigations (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The recently report Air Quality in Ireland 2014 – Key indicators of Ambient Air Quality, published by the EPA, outlines that no levels above the EU limit value were recorded at any of the ambient air monitoring sites in Ireland in 2014 and that in general, Irish air quality continues to be of good quality relative to other EU countries and relative to the EU limit values. The national...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: In discussions prior to the adoption of the 2007 Tyre Regulations, it was made clear that this was the last opportunity for the tyre industry to embrace environmental compliance and take responsibility for the waste it produces. If the required improvement did not happen, it was made clear to the tyre industry that the system would be reviewed and replaced with a full Producer Responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The most recent data from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) for Q2 2015 show that on an annual basis, nationally, rents were 7.1% higher than in Q2 2014. Rents for houses were 6.4% higher, while apartment rents were 7.6% higher than in the same quarter of 2014. These annual rates of increase were driven mainly by the Dublin market. Overall, in the 12 months to the end of Q2...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Electoral law provides for advance polling on islands where a returning officer considers that, due to weather conditions or transport difficulties, it would be impracticable either to take the poll on the polling day appointed by the Minister or, if the poll was taken on that day, to deliver the ballot boxes to the count centre in time for the commencement of the count. In the period...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Following the Court of Appeal ruling on the taxation of articulated vehicles, such vehicles now fall to be taxed at the haulage tractor rate. The annual rate is €333. Given that there is a single rate for this tax class, there is no requirement to have the vehicles in question reweighed. The necessary technical adjustments to the National Vehicle and Driver File have now been put in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors Administration (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: is a centralised database, hosted by the Local Government Management Agency on behalf of local authorities. It is available to assist the public in checking online that their voter registration details are up-to-date. In law, the preparation and maintenance of the register of electors is a matter for local authorities. The register details are then managed by the authorities and the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The capital allocation for the Fire Services Capital Programme in 2014 was €8 million. The Fire Services Capital Programme is used to recoup approved expenditure by fire authorities on the acquisition of fire appliances and fire-fighting equipment, the construction of new fire stations as well as the improvement/upgrading of existing station facilities and the replacement of first...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1094 and 1095 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long-term housing support, an assessment of housing need must be completed in order for a household to qualify for HAP. Any household with an identified housing need, including a homeless...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1096 to 1099, inclusive, together. The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. The HAP scheme is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long-term housing support, an assessment of housing need...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) No. 406/2009/EC. Under the ESD, EU-wide emissions in the year 2013 should be no more than the average of those same emissions in the years 2008 to 2010. Emissions in those three years were on average 4.5% below emissions in 2005. In the year 2020, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 41(1) of the National Lotteries Act 2013 enables National Lottery monies paid into the Central Fund to be allocated for the purposes of the natural environment, as well as potentially for a range of other stated purposes. Lottery funding is a limited resource utilised across a range of Government Departments and Agencies. National Lottery funding channelled through my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 2 of Schedule 9 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, prescribes the scale of fees to be applied in respect of planning applications. The scenario outlined by the Deputy would likely be considered as a Class 1 development which relates to “the provision of a house”. Under Class 1, a planning application fee of €65 per house would apply. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors Administration (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: An application for inclusion in the supplement to the register of electors must be signed by the applicant in the presence of a member of An Garda Síochána from the applicant’s local Garda station who must first be satisfied as to the person’s identity before signing, dating and stamping the form. The Garda may request photographic or other identification. Where the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commencement of Legislation (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The powers of local authorities to deal with anti-social behaviour and the repossession of local authority dwellings were significantly enhanced with the commencement of Part 2 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 13 April 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority for public water supplies. The procedures to be followed where there is non-compliance with the parametric value for lead of 10 microgrammes per litre,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Farm Waste Management (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: The spreading of sewage sludge is subject to a range of regulatory controls under waste management, water protection, planning and other applicable legislation. Persons seeking to spread sewage sludge are required, inter alia, under waste management legislation to: - ensure that sludge is not used except in accordance with a nutrient management plan in line with the Waste Management (Use of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Harbours and Piers Development (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: An allocation of €8 million was announced in the Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 for the development of pier facilities on Inis Oirr. I will be consulting with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, who has the lead role for offshore islands, on the proposals for developing the pier at Inis Oirr. Responsibility for the investment in the harbour at Ros...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Regulations (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department has no jurisdiction over, or engagement in, this matter. The Deputy may wish to consider pursuing the matter with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as there may be regulations under the aegis of that Department that may be relevant to the issue raised.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics. The statistics are available on my Department’s website at:. Statistics relating to the overall number of houses previously sold as affordable homes under local authority Affordable Housing schemes that are now rented out by the current owner are not collected by my Department. However, Department records show that to the end...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1113 and 1115 together. The Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) is being implemented across all local authorities. My Department issued revised guidelines to local authorities for dealing with mortgage arrears within the local authority sector in June 2014. Dealing with Mortgage Arrears – A Guide for Local Authoritiesis available on my...