Results 16,201-16,220 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climatological Stations (25 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The siting and operation of weather stations is guided by meteorological and climatological requirements. It should be noted that there are already 41 climatological stations located in Co. Kerry. Of these, 36 are rainfall stations, 3 of which are located close to Dingle at Ventry, Ballydavid and Cloghane. The remaining 5 stations in Kerry also record temperature. In addition, a key...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (25 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department funded a special programme in 2014, where 2,333 vacant social houses were returned to productive use. Funding allocations for a further 1,119 vacant social houses to be returned to productive use were made in May 2015. It is anticipated that the planned figure for 2016 will be 700 units. This programme is separate from any other renovation works that local authorities may...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality (25 Jun 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 for public water services including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Members' Remit (25 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Insofar as the Local Government Acts are concerned, section 11(7)(a) of the Local Government Act 2001 states that a local authority has power, inter alia, to acquire and dispose of land. As regards the acquisition of land, section 149(4) of the 2001 Act states that every function of a local authority which is not a reserved function is, for the purposes of the Act, an executive function of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waterways Issues (25 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Weir on the Vartry River in Ashford is the responsibility of Wicklow County Council and one for which I have no responsibility.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (25 Jun 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. I have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the management, operation or maintenance of water services infrastructure. The implementation and roll out of the first fix free scheme is a matter for Irish Water....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tax Code (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 242 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 211, 212 and 213 of Wednesday, 17 June 2015, which sets out t he position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Yield (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence. The self-assessed charge was set at €200 per annum. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Records (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not use a specific software product for the purpose of auto-deleting email. My Department’s staff must manage their email in compliance with their statutory obligations under the Data Protection Acts and the Freedom of Information Act, as well as my Department’s ICT policies. 

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Services (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. The management of library services, including the deployment of library resources in a local authority area is a matter for the local authority concerned in accordance with the library development programme adopted by the elected members as a reserved function . Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together. My Department is currently reviewing the unit cost ceilings for the construction of dwellings to be used for social housing. When finalised they will be notified to the local authorities. As a guide, in May 2015 the first phase of construction projects under the Social Housing Strategy was announced. Overall, there were 100 building...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. The Social Housing Strategy 2020states that funding for local authorities to return vacant social housing units to productive use in 2015 and onwards will be linked to local authorities putting in place on-going maintenance programmes.In 2014, a national programme was rolled out with up to €30,000 funding available per unit. 2,333...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Leases (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), previously referred to as the Social Housing Leasing Initiative, approved housing bodies and local authorities can lease properties from private owners on a long term basis (between 10 and 20 years). In respect of these units approved housing bodies and local authorities can, subject to Departmental approval, recoup up to 50% of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Remuneration (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Payment of salaries to staff of my Department is made in line with pay scales approved by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. If a minimum payment of €11.45 an hour were introduced, the additional costs are estimated to be in the region of €13,170 (not including Employer’s PRSI). Material in respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (24 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I announced the establishment of statutory committees on 19 June 2015 to review local government boundaries in Athlone, Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford. The groups were established under Part V of the Local Government Act 1991 and are independent in the performance of their functions in accordance with section 28(3) of the 1991 Act. Full details in relation to the committees, including...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Monitoring Missions (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: While there is no formal or statutory provision in place for international representatives to observe proceedings at elections or referendums in Ireland, applications for observer status are considered on request by the Franchise Section of my Department, through which such applications are generally channelled. Every effort is made to facilitate such requests with the cooperation of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Recycling Policy (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: There are no proposals to establish a gas appliances recycling system. It should however be noted that gas appliances which are dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly come under the scope of the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2014 which aim to reduce the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment that ends up...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Ireland’s statement at the 20th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP20) in Lima recognised the Green Climate Fund as a key instrument in mobilising climate action. It is important to note, however, that it is not the only means by which climate finance is made available. Despite our recent difficult economic circumstances, Ireland has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Projects (23 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Kildare County Council submitted a proposal to my Department in 2008 seeking funding approval for a Remedial Works Scheme at St. Patrick’s Park, Rathangan, County Kildare. Following a detailed examination of the proposal, my Department provisionally approved funding of €6.8 million for the scheme in July 2011 on condition that 10% of the cost would be met by the local authority....