Results 17,121-17,140 of 20,895 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (4 Mar 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. To manage the transition process a number of governance structures have been put in place by the Department which the Managing Director of Irish Water attends. A Water Sector Reform Steering Group, representative of local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: The power contained in section 75(4) of the Local Government Act 2001 allowing the Minister to issue directions to local authorities in relation to twinning is discretionary. To date, no such directions have issued.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reformbuilds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 4 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 considered at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform on 8 December and were then formalised into an Action Plan to Address Homelessnesswhich...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: A Study of Pay-by-use Systems for Maximising Waste Reduction Behaviour in Ireland, published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2011, indicates that pay-by-weight on a per kilogram basis is the most effective Pay-by-use (PBU) system in terms of waste prevention, waste recycling and diversion of waste from landfill. In this regard and as part of the development of a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Pollution (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Enforcement in relation to illegal diesel laundering activities is primarily a matter for the Revenue Commissioners from the point of view of avoiding loss of revenue to the Exchequer. My Department assists local authorities in carrying out their role as competent authorities under waste legislation, which involves taking the necessary measures, on behalf of the State, to ensure that any...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the existing Part V provisions, developers are required to ensure that up to 20% of land zoned for residential, and other uses, shall be reserved for social or affordable housing. However, with the substantial fall off in private construction, very little social housing is currently being provided under Part V. Informed by a recent review of the Part V provisions, which included a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Response (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to allocate funding of up to €69.5 million to local authorities in the areas worst affected by the first phase of severe weather in respect of the damage caused between 13 December 2013 and 6 January 2014. This was intended to support communities by restoring roads, coastal protection, amenities/facilities and other public infrastructure which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: The law in relation to twinning arrangements is set out in section 75 of the Local Government Act 2001 and while there are no direct supports available from my Department, it would be open to local authorities to support such initiatives from local resources. In addition, at EU level, Strand 2 of the ‘Europe for Citizens’ Programme 2014-2020 includes a measure dealing with town...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No 1 on today’s Order Paper. The 7,400 new social housing units to be provided in 2015 are broken down as follows: - 1,400 units to be built or acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies; - 3,000 units under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative; - 1,000 vacant local authority units will be returned to use; and, - 2,000 new Rental...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Animal health and welfare policy is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, the provisions of which apply to all animals including those in dog pounds. I am not aware of any reports of systemic issues of overcrowding in dog pounds.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am fully aware of the many challenges facing both the private and public housing sectors. Increasing housing supply is a critical issue and that is why, in May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 - A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. While the Strategy’s overarching objective is to put the construction sector as a whole on a sustainable footing, it sets out a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No 4 on today’s Order Paper. Local authorities no longer incur any expenditure on water services assets. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for operating and maintaining all water services assets and so it is Irish Water that is responsible for all such expenditure. Irish Water plans to invest over €400m in water infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 4 February 2015, I announced that my Department, in conjunction with the Department for Public Expenditure & Reform, has approved approximately 200 staff for local authorities, in order to support the implementation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020.The type of posts involved include Architects, Engineers, Planners, Surveyors, Housing Officers and Craftsmen, at varying grades....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: On 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessnesswas published in which the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Expenditure (4 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Data (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: The pyrite remediation scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the report of the independent Pyrite Panel and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. It is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. In...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes funding for group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme is, therefore, a matter for the local authorities. The National Rural Water Services Committee, which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Assets (4 Mar 2015)

Alan Kelly: Section 13 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides that moneys accruing to a housing authority from the sale of dwellings under the incremental and tenant purchase schemes provided for under Parts 3 and 4 of that Act, the resale of dwellings or sites under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 and from other specified sources, shall be accounted for by the...