Results 15,541-15,560 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: The allocation of an affordable home was made on the basis that an individual was in need of housing, was a first time buyer, could not afford to purchase privately on the open market but could service a mortgage obtained by loan through an approved financial institution or a local authority where private finance has been refused. All Local Authority affordable housing schemes were stood down...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dumping at Sea (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: I understand that the Dublin Port Company submitted a Dumping at Sea permit application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 13 July 2015 relating to dredging at Dublin Port as part of the Alexandra Basin redevelopment project. As the designated competent authority, the EPA will assess the application in accordance with the Dumping at Sea Act and will make a decision accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (3 Nov 2015)

Alan Kelly: 40 civil servants under the remit of my Department have been reinstated following career breaks since the start of 2010. Of this number 21 have returned directly to my Department and a further 19 have been reinstated in other areas of the civil service. This information is outlined year by year in the table below. Year Reinstated in Environment, Community and Local Government Reinstated...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (22 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed by Ireland in 1990 and ratified in 1992. It addresses rights and principles across a wide spectrum of areas – for example, education, health, justice and protection from violence. Housing is among areas referred to in terms of State Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, taking...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Lighting (22 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: I understand that the development in question is an unfinished housing development, which is in private ownership and has not yet been taken in charge. Longford County Council had initiated legal enforcement proceedings against the developer to have the estate completed satisfactorily. This is a matter for the local authority to address, but I understand that a programme of work to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (22 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: Dublin City Council has made a proposal for the funding of this project under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme for sheltered housing. My Department is in active discussions with the Council regarding the costs and certain design issues and we await further information from the Council so that the proposal can be advanced.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors (22 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local authority as a registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. The draft register is published on 1November each year and is generally available for examination at post offices, Garda stations and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (22 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: Tenants in the private rented sector have rights and protections under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The Act provides that rents may not be greater than the open market rate and may only be reviewed upward or downward once a year unless there has been a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation that warrants a review. Tenants must be given 28 days’ notice of new rent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vehicle Registration (21 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: I assume the Question is referring to motor tax, as there were no changes to Vehicle Registration Tax announced in Budget 2016. The changes to rates in motor tax will take effect for discs taken out with a commencement of 1 January 2016 or thereafter. Where tax is due for renewal prior to that date, owners of commercial vehicles will pay at the current rates. It should be noted that such...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant (21 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The eligibility criteria for the Water Conservation Grant are set out in the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015. Persons who register with Irish Water, as required under Section 5 (2)(a) of the Water Service Act 2014, on or before 30 June 2015 shall be eligible to receive the grant in 2015 if they were normally resident at the principal private residence on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (21 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together. An Affordable Rental pilot scheme, which was announced as part of Budget 2016, is currently being developed by my Department, in the context of the implementation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. €10 million has been made available from the proceeds of the sale of Bord Gáis Éireann for the scheme in 2016. This is to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (21 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: Arising from the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a grants scheme is available to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed to require repair or upgrading, following inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (21 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: Local authorities are multi-purpose bodies responsible for an extensive range of services, which include public parks; libraries; open spaces and leisure amenities; planning and development; fire and emergency services; roads; maintenance and cleaning of streets and street lighting. Income from local sources such as commercial rates, housing rents, environmental and other waste charges...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Freedom of Information Data (21 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The information in respect of Freedom of Information requests for the period January 2015 to date received by my Department is set out in the following table. Total FOI requests received January 2015 to date Completed within the initial four week timeframe 308 199 Cases may take longer than 4 weeks to be completed for a range of reasons, including the requirement for search and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (20 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The policy and operation of rent supplement is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. The details of the particular case highlighted in the Question have been forwarded to the Department of Social Protection for further consideration. In order to qualify for rent supplement, a person must have been residing in private rented accommodation or accommodation for homeless persons or an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: An Bord Pleanála is the independent statutory body assigned responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and certain other matters under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, and for the determination of applications for strategic infrastructure development including major road and railway projects. Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant (20 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The legislative basis for the Water Conservation Grant is set out in Section 5 of the Water Services Act 2014 and statutory regulations under the section, inter alia, provide for the general administrative procedures for the scheme. Persons who register with Irish Water, as required under Section 5(2)(a) of the Water Service Act 2014, on or before 30 June 2015 shall be eligible to receive the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (20 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: 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. The HSE are responsible for the provision of healthcare supports to the homeless while the Department of Social Protection oversees issues relating to social exclusion. A...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (20 Oct 2015)

Alan Kelly: The provisions of the Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013 and following a three month transition period, have been fully in force since 1 October 2013. The Act provides that, if a declaration is not made in the month of expiry of an existing motor tax disc or an existing declaration of non-use, a minimum of three months motor tax, along with any arrears due,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (20 Oct 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. This includes capital expenditure on water and waste water services but excludes expenditure on the rural water programme. Total voted capital expenditure on water services in the years 2011 to 2015 is set out in the...