Results 18,201-18,220 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Welfare (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The humane destruction of dogs is provided for in the Control of Dogs Act s 1986 to 2010, and it is a matter for the management of dog pounds to ensure the requirement for humane destruction is complied with when dogs are destroyed. The Acts do not provide for the issuance of mandatory guidance, and there is no provision for the making of Regulations in relation to the humane destruction of dogs.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and that the CER must perform its functions in a manner that best serves the interests of customers of Irish Water. Section 32 of the Act provides that Irish Water shall submit a code or codes of practice to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (2 Dec 2014)

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. The occupier of a property is liable to pay the water charges bill, and legislation provides that the owner is the occupier unless the contrary is proven. Irish Water is providing landlords with the opportunity to prove that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Remit (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme. However, the provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Social Housing Strategy 2020, approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and 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 total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The funding that is provided by my Department to local authorities for social housing on an ongoing basis supports both the development of new social housing units and the acquisition of units based on the priorities set by the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority, as the housing authority for its area, to identify the social housing need and to respond as required....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill is included on the ‘A’ list of Bills in the Government’s Legislation Programme, as a Bill expected to be published in the period up to the beginning of the next Oireachtas session in mid - January 2015. It is not proposed to remove the requirement for seaweed harvesters to obtain a foreshore licence. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: At present, private developers are required under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to ensure that 20% of land zoned for residential and other uses, is reserved for social or affordable housing. Informed by a recent review of the Part V provisions, which included a public consultation process, my Department has published the General Scheme of the Planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Countryside Recreation Strategy (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The economic and social benefits derived from landowners allowing greenways or walkways through their lands is fully recognised by my Department, as is the possibility of inconvenience or loss caused to these landowners by allowing such projects to proceed. Permissive access, which does not attract any incentive or compensation, will continue to be a key tool in the delivery of these types...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I presume that the Question relates to the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September 2014 which the Taoiseach attended. While not part of the formal UNFCCC negotiations, the UN Secretary General convened world leaders in order to mobilise political will for an ambitious global legal climate agreement by 2015 that limits the world to a below 2°C rise in global...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and forms part of a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I launched last week. The HAP scheme is designed to bring together all the social housing services provided by the State, with local authorities being responsible for all households with an established housing need, including those...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform , approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and 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. Initial funding, through the €2.2...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants in this sector. Receipt of a determination order is the official...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: There are currently two mortgage-to-rent schemes in operation through my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority (LA) can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (LA- mortgage-to-rent). The other scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to acquire...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Action 23 of the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy, which was published in May 2014, committed to examining the possibility of enabling local authorities, should they wish to do so, to adopt new measures to incentivise the use and development of vacant and underutilised sites in urban areas. In this regard, the Government have recently given approval for the preparation of a new...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The establishment of Irish Water is an integral component of the Government’s water sector reform strategy and involves major organisational change. The establishment of a high performance utility will lead to lower costs and improved services in the future, providing much better outcomes for customers and the environment. Details of Irish Water’s costs are outlined in their...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020, published on 26 November, includes a commitment to examine the possibility of introducing a "housing passport". This measure has the potential to enhance significantly the responsiveness of the social housing system to changing housing needs by allowing households in receipt of, or qualified for, social housing support in one local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (2 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to my reply to Question No. 87 on today’s order paper which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (2 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 launched last week. 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 they gain...