Results 17,761-17,780 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electromagnetic Fields Studies (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The issue of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, which considered issues such as digital signals, microwaves and mobile phone masts, is available for download on my Department’s website at: . Earlier...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department’s Annual Report for 2013 has been published and is available on the Department’s website at .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I can confirm that I have not been made aware by Irish Water of any such instances.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the 2014-2020 programme period, including the LEADER elements, was submitted to the European Commission in July 2014. My Department is currently working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Commission to finalise the text of the document with a view to commencing the implementation of the LEADER element of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: In the main, projects under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 had contract completion dates up to 1 December 2014. However, approval was given to extend the completion dates of a number of projects into 2015 following requests from a number of Local Development Companies. Up to €25million in funding has been ring fenced for these projects in 2015 but all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Two Shared Ownership schemes were in operation until 2011, when the decision was taken to stand down all affordable housing schemes. Under Shared Ownership, a house was acquired by a local authority and leased to a shared owner, who purchased at least 40% of the value of the house and rented the remaining equity from the local authority. The local authority financed the transaction by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (18 Dec 2014)

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. Bringing vacant local authority properties back into productive use as quickly as possible is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (18 Dec 2014)

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 for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities and the purposes for which housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (18 Dec 2014)

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 for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities and the purposes for which housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: My focus for the remainder of the Government’s term will be to continue to deliver on those commitments within the Programme for Government2011-2016and the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016for which I have responsibility. In that context, particular attention will centre on delivery on actions under the Action Plan for Jobs, the Construction 2020 Strategy, the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (18 Dec 2014)

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 with those with a long term housing need transferring from rent supplement, on a phased basis, and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to Question No. 181 of 11 December 2014 regarding my Department’s Scheme to Support National Organisations. Pobal were asked to undertake the appraisal and management of the Scheme to Support National Organisations, and, in that context, put in place a dedicated team to deal with any inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Expenditure (18 Dec 2014)

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 help communities by restoring roads, coastal protection, amenities/ facilities and other public infrastructure which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Expenditure (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The lead Government agency for flood risk management is the Office of Public Works, which comes within the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I have no function in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 to 538, inclusive, together. Under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of social housing stock is the responsibility of local authorities, as the housing authorities for their areas. My Department provides funding support to local authorities in respect of their work on the provision and maintenance of social housing and, in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Disability Services Provision (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department has supported local authorities in implementing the Disability Act 2005 since its enactment. My Department’s Sectoral Plan, as provided for in section 31 of the Disability Act 2005, was developed in consultation with people with disabilities to assist the Department and local authorities in supporting an inclusive society with accessible buildings, facilities, services...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The information requested in relation to staff of my Department on career break is set out in the table below. Duration No of Staff 0 - 6 months 0 6 - 12 months 3 1 - 2 years 4 2 - 3 years 2 3 - 4 years 0 4 - 5 years 1 5 years+ 2

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Since taking up appointment as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the only external photographic service engaged was in respect of the launch of the new Social Housing Strategy in November 2014. In that instance, the service provider was Maxwell Photography and the cost involved was €551.04. My Department’s Press Office generally provides photographic...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Relations Contracts Data (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 560 together. There have been no Public Relations firms engaged by my Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 or in 2014. 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 capabilities that are not readily available within my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together. A range of contracts are in place for the provision of ICT services including training, software and storage provision. While not considered as a consultancy, an external company was engaged for the provision of training and continuing professional development of my Department’s ICT unit; this contract has not been renegotiated...