Results 17,741-17,760 of 21,040 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Rents (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 916 to 920, inclusive, together. Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, as amended, provides for the introduction of a national differential rents framework that will result in a significant harmonisation of local authority differential rent levels nationally, while retaining some discretion for individual authorities in setting rents...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 921 and 927 together. Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses which will replace the 1995 scheme and the once–off 2011 scheme, which closed in June 2014 and June 2013, respectively. The Social Housing Strategy 2020, which was published in November...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Stát Seirbhís (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: Mar chuid dá Phleanáil d’Fhórsa Saothair, rinne mo Roinn imscrúdú ar líon na bpost ina bhfuil inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla ag teastáil. Fuarthas nach bhfuil poist den chineál sin sa Roinn, ag an am seo, agus dá bhrí sin níl aon phoist faoi leith ainmnithe le riachtanas dátheangach. Tá é seo tugtha...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department engaged the services of photographers on a number of occasions since February 2011. The details of the engagements are set out in the table below: Year Event Photographer Cost 2011 Ireland’s Best Kept Towns Ceremony Maxwell Photography €932 2011 Tidy Towns National Awards ceremony The Picture Rooms €600 2011 Meeting of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Relations Contracts Data (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: No public relations firms were engaged by my Department for the years 2012, 2013 or 2014. As part of the promotion of a sponsorship campaign for the Tidy Towns competition, Pembroke Communications was engaged in 2011. In relation to my Department’s policy for the engagement of external expertise, this is generally only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities, in this instance...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: I intend to establish a Referendum Commission, in accordance with section 2 of the Referendum Act 1998, in respect of the proposed referendums to be held in 2015 once the relevant Constitution Amendment Bills have been initiated in the Dáil.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts Data (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: The expenditure by my Department on consultancies during 2014 is set out in the following table: Consultant Purpose of Consultancy 2014 Expenditure Bid Management Services Professional services regarding procurement document. €2,583 Deloitte & Touche Expert Assistance in the Local Government Shared Services Programme. €66,036 Duncan Lawrence Environmental Ltd....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (14 Jan 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: EU Directives (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: I understand the Deputy’s question to relate to EU Directives which remain to be transposed into national law wholly or partly by my Department. There is currently 1 Directive, for which my Department has primary responsibility, which is outstanding for transposition. This is the Directive on Sulphur Content in Marine Fuels, which was due to be transposed by 18 June 2014. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: The Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published in November 2014, sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. The Strategy provides for a total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 938 and 939 together. The number and name of Bills initiated by my Department since September 2013 is set out in the table below. None of these bills was subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas which was provided for in the revisions to Standing Orders adopted by the Dáil on 17 October 2013 and which came into effect on 5...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jan 2015)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 940 to 942, inclusive, together. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 03/2013 sets out the details of a Staff Exchange Scheme between the Civil Service and the Private Sector, along the lines of the Temporary Staff Transfer Scheme provided for previously under Department of Public Service Circular 10/1979. A copy of Circular 03/2013 can be...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank Senator Cullinane.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Section 7 provides for the establishment of a public water forum by the commission. It represents the interests of the customers of Irish Water. It is proposed it could be 12 to 60 and that is done deliberately. The detail as regards the regulations was not going to be put into this Bill - it was never the intention to do so. I have already said I will draft regulations, send them to the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is simply not true. The process is done in great detail now and also in terms of a concentration level. This debate has raised other issues which I will bring back to Government.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I will raise the matter with the Minister for Health.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: This has been another very interesting discussion.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is interesting. The amendment proposes that the public water forum shall have a role in reviewing the use of fluoride in the water supply and to issue recommendations to Irish Water on the use of fluoride in water. However, the policy on the fluoridation of water in the legislation governing the use of fluoride in water supplies is not a matter for myself but for the Minister for Health.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Yes, but it is still a matter for the Minister for Health. The Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 and the Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007 provide for the making of arrangements by the HSE for the fluoridation of public water supplies -----