Results 17,341-17,360 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mental Health Awareness (12 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department will co-operate with whatever position may be adopted at central level in respect of this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (12 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Revised Estimates volume for the local government fund in 2014 can be found as an appendix to Vote 25 for my Department on page 109.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (12 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together. My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages, with a breakdown of those in arrears. However, the data currently available does not provide a specific breakdown in respect of Shared Ownership Mortgages. A data collection process is currently underway, referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (12 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. Data on local authority housing stock (which incorporates owned housing stock with accommodation provided under the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the Social Housing Leasing Initiative) are available on my Department’s website at:, by clicking...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (12 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Development contributions allow local authorities to recoup some of the costs to public funds of servicing land for private development.  They provide a mechanism by which developers can contribute to the cost of providing public infrastructure and facilities that benefit development in the area.  The payment of development contributions is a longstanding part of the planning...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (12 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013, replacing the retrospective system of declaring vehicles off the road with one where a vehicle must be declared off the road in advance. Figures for the number of retrospective declarations made in the six months to the end of June 2013 are not readily available. Prospective d eclarations of non-use made between 1 July...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (12 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Minister of State Ann Phelan’s responsibilities were extended by the Government in late 2014. In addition to her assignment to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, she has now also been assigned to my Department where she has responsibility for a range of functions relating to Community, Local and Rural Development....

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I will finish shortly. The annual transition statement shall comprise: a statement by myself as Minister providing an overview of mitigation and adaptation policy measures that have been adopted by the State; a statement by relevant Ministers detailing the sectoral mitigation policy measures for which they are responsible and an assessment of their effectiveness; and a statement by relevant...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Climate change is rightly gaining increasing recognition as one of the greatest challenges to face humankind. Its effects respect no national boundaries. The consequences are felt globally and can only be addressed on an international scale. Ireland has been and remains a highly active participant in the processes at both EU and UN...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Social housing is a key priority for the Government, evidenced by the significant funding announced in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020in November, 2014. The Strategy builds 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal) was established in October 1997 and published its Final Report in March 2012. The work of the Tribunal at present is largely focused on the settlement of the remainder of third-party and court costs incurred during the work of the Tribunal. It is anticipated that the day-to-day operations of the Tribunal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, local authority employee contracts are a matter for the Chief Executives.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 176, 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: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Social housing is a key priority for the Government, evidenced by the additional €2.2billion in funding announced for social housing in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020in November, 2014. The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (11 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 589 of 10 February 2015 which sets out the current position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Tax Yield (10 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department has advised local authorities of their provisional Local Property Tax allocations from the Local Government Fund for 2015. 80% of LPT will be retained locally to fund vital public services in 2015. The remaining 20% will be re-distributed to provide top-up funding to certain local authorities that have lower property tax bases due to the variance in property values across the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (10 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Commissioner of Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters, including the method of valuation. The Valuation Act...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: In Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepares inventories of greenhouse gas emissions, which are compilations of historical greenhouse gas emissions from sources such as transport, power generation, industry and agriculture. The most recent year for which provisional data are available is 2013. In that year, total national greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 57.81...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant (10 Feb 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 564, 565, 567, 576, 586 and 587 together. To promote sustainable use of water and to enhance water conservation in households, the Department of Social Protection will administer, on behalf of my Department, a €100 water conservation grant for households (principal private dwellings) that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer...