Results 18,321-18,340 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. My Department is providing funding under the scheme of in excess of €8 million over the two year period to mid–2016. This represents an increase in funding of more...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (26 Nov 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. I have no role in the operational matters of Irish Water. Under the Domestic Networks Operations Code of Practice, where it is proved that damage to a customer’s property has been caused due to the failure of an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The material requested by the Deputy is being compiled into tabular form and will be forwarded to her as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bórd Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. Four regional main contractors covering eight meter regions were appointed by Irish Water following a public tendering process. All of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Section 21 of the Act requires Irish Water to charge each customer in receipt of water services provided by it. If a customer is in receipt of a wastewater disposal service from Irish Water, they will be charged accordingly. The Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 537 of 25 November 2014 which sets out the position on this matter. I will be bringing forward specific legislation shortly which will address the detailed arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Application Numbers (26 Nov 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: Commercial Rates (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together. Data in relation to collection rates for non-domestic water users is contained in the annual Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) Service Indicators report. The most recent of these is the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) report Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2012, which was published in March 2014. This report is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 537 of 25 November 2014 which sets out the position on this matter. My Department will be consulting with the local government and approved housing body sectors in the course of drafting the necessary legislative provisions.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (26 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Government continues to advance a range of measures that support volunteering and active citizenship. My Department funds a network of twenty one volunteer centres. It also provides funding to Volunteer Ireland, the national volunteer development agency. The focus of Volunteer Ireland is to create an enabling environment for volunteering, to develop an ethos of volunteerism across all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. My Department is providing funding under the scheme of in excess of €8 million over the two year period to mid–2016. This represents an increase in funding of more...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483, 500, 518 and 535 together. My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281 million over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Priory Hall Development (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: An implementation group, chaired by Dr Martin McAleese, is in place to oversee the effective implementation of all aspects of the agreed Framework. The implementation group includes representatives of both former residents and buy-to-let owners, thereby ensuring that all of the Priory Hall homeowners are fully engaged and fairly treated. In relation to the refurbishment works, the position...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electromagnetic Fields Studies (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485, 522 and 523 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I have no plans currently to introduce a direct debit payment option for motor tax and my Department has, therefore, not fully costed the introduction and implementation of a direct debit system. The introduction of such a system would also involve the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, which has responsibility for overseeing the operation of the National Vehicle Driver File and the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Households that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process will, in the case of primary dwellings, be eligible for a €100 water conservation grant, payable through the Department of Social Protection. This payment is being made available to support more sustainable use of water, as part of the Government’s objective of achieving greater...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation Grant (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together. Households that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process will, in the case of primary dwellings, be eligible for a €100 water conservation grant, payable through the Department of Social Protection. This payment is being made available to support more sustainable use of water, as part of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Appointments (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 494 together. The Irish Water Consultative Group was established to facilitate engagement with the Unions and staff on the roll-out of the Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy, and had its inaugural meeting in September 2012 under an independent chair, Mr. Kevin Foley of the Labour Relations Commission. This joint union/management group was...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (25 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 to 493, inclusive, together. Over 4,700 new construction projects have been notified to Building Control Authorities across the local government sector since the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 regulations came into operation on 1 March 2014. Evidence to date suggests that the Construction industry is responding well to the new...