Results 16,661-16,680 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vehicle Registration (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: An administrative arrangement has been in place since 1987 to facilitate motor dealers by enabling them to temporarily tax a vehicle in their ownership pending resale without their particulars being entered on the registration document as an additional owner. Since the introduction of a trade licence system for distributors/dealers/garages in 1992, which allows holders of a trade plate to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Planning authorities may, when adopting the Development Plan for their areas, adopt policies to curtail an excessive concentration of takeaways in particular areas. Under planning legislation, the change of use of any premises to a takeaway or fast food outlet would require planning permission. In deciding whether or not to grant permission for a development, the relevant planning authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Payments (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Recoupment made to local authorities under the Rental Accommodation Scheme in 2014 amounted to €133,512,889. Annual expenditure on the scheme covers not only the contracted rents due to private landlords but also payments that are made to Voluntary Housing Bodies, administration costs, deposits on newly acquired accommodation and payments made in respect of additional units...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together. The most recent Summary of Social Housing Assessments, carried out as at 7 May 2013, found that there were 2,810 households on the waiting lists of the Limerick local authorities at this date. The full results of the 2013 Summary are available at the following link:. The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date figures available on waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Inspections (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 to 431, inclusive, together. As of 27 April 2015, 11,195 domestic wastewater treatment systems in county Westmeath have been registered. This represents 92% of the estimated total number of domestic wastewater systems in the county based on Census 2011 data. The registration fees payable by owners of the domestic waste water treatment systems were...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Responsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, which includes funding for group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The annual block grant allocations provided by my Department to the local authorities under the programme, in respect of group water schemes, are based, in the first instance, on the requests for funding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Sector Contracts (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The transfer to Irish Water of all contracts relating to Design Build Operate (DBO) schemes were included in two Ministerial Orders, the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (Transfer of Other Liabilities) Order 2014, which was signed on 20 February 2014, and the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (Transfer of Other Liabilities) Order (No. 2) 2014, which was signed on 24 April 2014. A copy of these...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Assets (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer, by Ministerial Order, of the property of a water services authority to Irish Water. A number of such Orders have already taken effect this year to transfer all below ground assets, financial assets and almost 240 treatment plants. Considerable work is involved in preparing supporting material for the transfer of over-ground...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Fixyourstreet.ie was designed, developed and implemented by the local government sector, with South Dublin County Council as the lead authority. I have no function in relation to the operation of Fixyourstreet.ie and my Department does not routinely maintain data on the incidents reported to the site. However, in the Annual Progress Report on the Public Service Reform Plan 2014 - 2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published on 26 November 2014. The HAP scheme will bring all social housing supports provided by the State under the aegis of local authorities. The scheme will remove a barrier to employment by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Polling Stations (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 791 of 15 April 2015 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 441 together. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Cars registered pre-2008 are taxed on the basis of engine capacity. Where there has been a change of engine, l incensing authorities will amend the engine capacity of the vehicle if the number and cubic capacity of the new engine have been certified by a main dealer. Motor tax liability is then adjusted accordingly, where appropriate. In the case of cars registered since 2008, the basis of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (28 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under existing arrangements, motor tax is payable online, by post or in person via motor tax offices in twenty six local authorities. Changes to, or impacting on, the motor tax system in late 2013, such as the ending of the retrospective system of declaring vehicles off the road, an extension of the facility to pay arrears of motor tax online and revised procedures for the issuing of...

Other Questions: Housing Data (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Hear, hear.

Other Questions: Electoral Reform (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Deputy makes a valid point and we will certainly examine it. I cannot commit to getting it done before the by-election, although I will see if it is possible. We will take advice on the matter and revert to the Deputy and the House. However, the issue is validly put and must be seriously examined.

Other Questions: Island Communities (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Hear, hear.

Other Questions: Electoral Reform (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Provisions for the layout of the ballot paper for Dáil elections are set out in section 88 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended. Over the years, many suggestions have been made for change to the format and layout of ballot papers. These include blacking or shading the empty emblem box for non–party candidates and the use of the word "independent" instead of "non-party". The...

Other Questions: Electoral Reform (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Deputy has raised a number of issues and this is one. I will examine it. The Deputy and others, who take a keen interest in this, as we all should, have raised several issues. It is a valid argument and it is something we will be able to deal with over time. I must take some advice on it, particularly legal advice, but at this juncture it is something I would consider favourably.

Other Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (23 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I respect the sincerity in which the Deputy asks this question. I have always said, and I wish to be fair to Deputies across the Chamber who have worked with me on it, that this issue is above political to-ing and fro-ing. Many measures are being taken and examined. We are constantly examining other ways in which we can facilitate. We listed 80 actions and implemented them before...