Results 16,801-16,820 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Finance Agency (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Housing Finance Agency plc. ( HFA) has 11 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) staff. The Agency meets its own costs from its operations as required by its establishing legislation, the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981. The Agency’s running costs are set out in its Annual Reports and Accounts, copies of which are available on the Agency’s website at: , and are also available in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Previous arrangements for producer responsibility in relation to waste tyres in Ireland involved two separate compliance schemes, with an option also for self-compliance. However, the Producer Responsibility Initiative (PRI) review published by my Department last year concluded that the system is not functioning as intended, with a lack of basic information, poor structure, poor environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: No Exchequer funds have been provided for the establishment costs of Irish Water. The only Exchequer funding provided to Bórd Gáis or Irish Water in 2012 or 2013 was a grant of €0.57m to Irish Water in 2013 to fund the cost of a pilot study in relation to Phase 2 of the Water Metering Programme which is targeted at metering those properties that were not meterable in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The collection of waste by waste collectors is subject to compliance with applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, primarily the Waste Management Act 1996 and conditions attached to each waste collector’s collection permit issued under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007. Waste collection in individual local authority areas may also be subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 778 and 795 together. Together with Minister of State Coffey, I recently announced social housing targets for local authorities to 2017 which are available at the following link on my Department’s website: . The detailed breakdown of these targets for each local authority area will be issued directly to the local authorities concerned shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Language (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department adopted, in 2013, its third Irish Language Scheme, prepared under section 15 of the Official Languages Act 2003 and confirmed by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The current Irish Language Scheme details the steps being taken to promote the use of the Irish language within my Department and aims to continue to deliver and build on the commitments outlined in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessnesswas published in May 2014 and sets out the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website at the following link: This plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Whenever an election or referendum takes place, my Department places advertisements in the national papers advising eligible voters who are not registered to vote to take the opportunity to apply for inclusion in the supplement to the register of electors so that they can take part in that election or referendum. In the case of referendums specifically, the role of any Referendum Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Postal Voting (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: In order to be able to vote at elections and referendums, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides. Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of certain categories of person who are entered in the register of electors - whole-time members of the Defence Forces; members of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Grant Payments (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: An allocation of €130m for the grant scheme has been provided in my Department’s Estimate for 2015 which is intended to cover grant payments and all administration costs including staffing. This is based on an estimate of up to 1.3 million households applying for the grant. This estimated level of demand for 2015 takes account of the number of primary residences recorded in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Oversight and Audit Commission Remit (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The National Oversight and Audit Committee has met on 5 occasions to date.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: While the physical regeneration element of Ballymun is largely completed, the social regeneration programmes are continuing. Therefore current considerations regarding tenure mix will continue and for that reason it is not proposed, at this stage, to alter the current arrangements regarding the payment of rent supplement in Ballymun. However, the position will be kept under review.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Polling Stations (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station and count staff...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Illegal Dumping (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency. My Department provides a legislative and policy framework through which the enforcement authorities operate in this regard.  Penalties available under the Litter Pollution Acts for litter offences range from an on-the-spot fine of €150, to a maximum fine of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Funding (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 799 to 803, inclusive, together. My Department provides funding to local authorities for various social housing supports, including for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding provided by my Department meets 90% of the cost of such works, with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Eligibility (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is a national scheme administered entirely by local authorities and is specifically targeted to cater for households in receipt of Rent Supplement from the Department of Social Protection, for over 18 months who have been assessed by their authority as having a long-term housing need. Funding of €135 million has been provided this year to fund...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 812 and 813 together. Successfully tackling the current homelessness issue in the Dublin Region demands that a higher priority be afforded to homeless households in the allocation of housing. Accordingly, I issued a Direction to the four Dublin local authorities on 27 January 2015 to prioritise homeless and other vulnerable households. This Direction applies...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the first phase of the HAP statutory pilot commenced with effect from 15 September 2014 in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork County Council. HAP commenced in Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin and Monaghan County Councils from 1 October. Subsequently, on 18...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am not aware of any instances where geo-engineering is being undertaken or planned in this country . In relation to climate change policies and action, my focus at this point in time is to put in place appropriate mitigation measures at the national level to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this regard, the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill 2015 which was published in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Funding (15 Apr 2015)

Alan Kelly: Exchequer funding of over €37 million was provided by my Department to local authorities in 2014 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Combined with an additional 20% contribution by individual local authorities, there was an overall spend last year of €46.3 million in this area. I am pleased to confirm that the 2015 amount will...