Results 15,801-15,820 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The management and operation of dog pounds is a matter solely for local authorities and is a matter in which my Department has no role. I am not aware of any instances of, or investigations into, the illegal sale of dogs through local authority dog pounds.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dog Licensing (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 1 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 provides that the owner of a dog includes the occupier of a premises where the dog is kept or permitted to live or remain at any particular time unless the occupier proves to the contrary. Section 2 of the Act provides, however, that any personwho keeps or is in possession of a dog must be in possession of a valid dog licence. Accordingly, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Minister for Social Protection is responsible for the policy and operation of the Rent Supplement Scheme, formerly the Rent Allowance Scheme, and I have no function in the matter. In relation to the operation of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, informed by an extensive public consultation process and an independent in-depth review, a number of amendments to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is conducting a two stage process for the selection of Local Development Strategies to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Stage one is complete but stage two is still on-going and therefore no entity has been selected to deliver LEADER in any area. Under stage one of the selection process, any entity...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I established the Galway Local Government Committee under the Local Government Act 1991 on 21 January 2015 and it commenced its work on 10 February 2015 . The Committee, which is independent in the performance of its functions, has been asked to prepare a report making recommendations with respect to whether the boundary of Galway city should be altered or whether Galway City Council and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Boundaries (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1454 and 1455 together. I announced the establishment of independent statutory committees on 19 June 2015 to review local government boundaries in Athlone, Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford. In each case, the committees have been asked to carry out a review of the boundary between the respective counties and city and county and to make recommendations with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The total funding allocation of €50.5m nationally for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability that I announced in May 2015 represents an increase of some 10% over the 2014 funding. In the case of Westmeath County Council, its total funding amount of €775,140 for 2015 is an increase of 10% on its 2014 allocation. To date, 30% of the...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1457, 1458 and 1509 together. A review of revised proposals and drawings provided to my Department in respect of this building development will be concluded shortly and I expect that a response will be provided to the local authority within the next fortnight.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1459 and 1460 together. Statistics on local authority housing stock, including the number of vacant social housing units for each local authority, are published by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent statistics are contained in the ‘Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2013’ which is available at the following web link: .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Grant Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: There is no legal bar to the payment of a Housing Aid for Older People Grant where a grant has been paid previously under the scheme . However , it would not be expected that the need for payment of a second grant would ordinarily occur if the initial grant-aided works are properly executed and appropriate to the needs of the applicant. The payment of a second grant may be appropriate where...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. It should be noted that the existing arrangements for all non-domestic customers are remaining in place with no changes for the time being in line with the Water Charges Plan approved by the CER . On this basis, the local authorities are continuing to bill and provide services to non-domestic water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Grant Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. The grant eligible works include the provision of heating where the household has no current heating system, as well as structural repairs and improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Pollution (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1466 and 1477 together. The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets required quality standards. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes or fittings within the property boundaries, including...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: In December 2013, my Department published proposed draft revisions to the noise, setbacks 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 wind energy developments, - a mandatory minimum setback of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Correspondence (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: I and Minister of State Coffey and jointly wrote to the Chief Executives of each of the four Dublin Local Authorities on 10 June 2015 urging that the process for making development plans, underway in each authority at present, should focus around practical measures that can be adopted to boost housing supply and to ensure that good quality housing in suitable locations is available at...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 1 April, I announced provisional funding allocations totalling €1.5 billion for all local authorities, to meet an ambitious delivery target of circa. 22,900 social housing units out to 2017. Details of the individual targets set for local authorities can be found on my Department’s website at:. To date in 2015, some €493 million has been allocated to local authorities...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1472 and 1473 together. No direction has issued from my Department to local authorities restricting the development of social housing schemes in excess of 50 units. The provision of social housing services is in the first instance, a matter for each local authority as the housing authority for its area. Guidelines from my Department to local authorities in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: In December 2014 I hosted a special Summit on Homelessness to reaffirm the Government's commitment to end involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. A number of actions arising from the Summit were subsequently integrated into an Action Plan to Address Homelessness. This is a whole-of-Government plan involving a range of actions by various State agencies. Substantial progress...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Correspondence (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: A reply has issued to the correspondence referred to, outlining my Department ’s concerns regarding the tender assessment for the proposed development concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Natural Heritage Areas Designation (22 Sep 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that when preparing the development plan for their areas, planning authorities must include objectives for a range of specified matters, including the conservation and protection of the environment which incorporates the protection of prescribed sites such as those designated as natural heritage areas. In deciding...