Results 17,281-17,300 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions in six selected planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. I expect to receive the final report...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Statistics (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of housing policy. Due to the significantly reduced mortgage activity since 2009, concerns about the quality of the data and the availability of statistics referred to in the question from other sources, a decision was taken to cease my Department's publication of the statistics...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department allocates funding to local authorities towards the cost of adaptations and extensions to social housing to meet the needs of tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. All aspects of the administration of this funding locally are matter s for each local authority and my Department is not involved with the selection or prioritisation of individual projects.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 199, inclusive, together. A total of €3.78 million, as set out in the following table, has been provided by my Department to An Taisce over the past five years. DECLG Funding to An Taisce Source 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total € € € € € € DECLG Vote 0 0 0 0 275,492 275,492 Environment Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seanad Elections (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Government Legislation Programme for the Spring/Summer 2015 session provides for publication of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill in 2015. In 2014, the General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill was published for consultation. The General Scheme is part of the legislative process to implement the 1979 constitutional amendment to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Noise Pollution (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Currently, a person experiencing noise nuisance may contact their local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The number of staff employed by each local authority at the end of each year since 2008 is set out in the following table on a whole time equivalent basis (WTE). From 2013, a combined staffing figure was returned for Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council. From 2014, a combined staffing figure was returned for Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council and for Tipperary...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Litter Pollution (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat littering and include provisions relating to dog fouling.  Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering (including dog fouling) is a matter for local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: In the third quarter of 2014, rents were 5.6% higher nationally than in the same quarter of 2013, according to the most recent rent index from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). Rents for houses were 4.3% higher while apartment rents were 7.3% higher than in the same quarter of 2013. In Dublin, which is seeing the highest rates of increase nationally, overall rents were higher by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Coastal Protection (19 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: A draft foreshore licence to cover proposed dredging works at Magheraroarty issued to the County Council's legal advisers in May 2014 and to date has not been returned to the Chief State Solicitor's Office. My Department has advised the County Council that dredging works should not commence in the absence of an executed licence. Funding for such works is a matter for Donegal County...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Communications (18 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am aware of, and support, the excellent work being done by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) in the promotion of plain English. My Department has, in the past, received support from NALA in plain English editing on various documents. In addition, writing in plain English is a core element of a series of training courses currently underway in my Department. A Style Guideline...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Communications (18 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I am aware of, and support, the excellent work being done by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) in the promotion of plain English. My Department has, in the past, received support from NALA in plain English editing on various documents. In addition, writing in plain English is a core element of a series of training courses currently underway in my Department. A Style Guideline...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (18 Feb 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 implement the targets set within the Social Housing Strategy 2020. My Department has approved or approved in principle up to 50 housing posts for Dublin City Council and 28 posts have been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Bituminous Fuel Ban (18 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuel (or "smoky coal ban" as it is commonly known) was first introduced in Dublin in 1990 in response to severe episodes of winter smog that resulted from the widespread use of smoky coal for residential heating. The ban proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels in Dublin. As well as bringing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (18 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Three separate schemes are available as follows.The Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (18 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 216, inclusive, together. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (18 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has an ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction target under the 2009 EU Effort-Sharing Decision (406/2009/EC).  Furthermore, in October 2014, the European Council endorsed a binding EU target of an at least 40% domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and specified that the target will be...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I, too, can read and have read the Labour Court's recommendation in the case. I am well aware of my responsibilities and will not shirk them. However, the fact remains that the local development companies are private entities. The Deputies have probably raised this issue a little prematurely because a tendering process is under way and will soon conclude.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Imminently.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: It means very soon.