Results 18,441-18,460 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: To clarify the situation for mixed use customers who are both domestic customers and non-domestic customers of Irish Water, for example, in the case of an apartment over a shop or a house on a farm. These households are billed separately for both uses, with separate accounts. The charging regime for non-domestic use will remain the same as applied under the relevant local authority, until...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I move:"That Dáil Éireann:supports the establishment of Irish Water as a long-term strategic investment project that will deliver the scale of investment necessary to deliver water services infrastructure to the highest standards required to meet the needs of the Irish people; recognises that managing our water resources effectively is essential to ensure that Ireland can continue...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: This is a significant moment for the country. We as a Government have made mistakes, but we now face a critical choice. Put simply, we now have a choice that is based on either short-term emotion and anger or long-term prudence and common sense. Anger is never a good starting point for any key decision. The issue of future water provision in this country needs a more sober and considered...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167, 172 and 173 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Illegal Dumping (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My role, as Minister, is to provide the legislative and policy framework under which both local authority and EPA enforcement action against illegal dumping is initiated. Enforcement action against illegal waste activity is a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As Minister, I am specifically precluded...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water is responsible for the water meter installation programme. I understand that Irish Water is committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible. Irish Water’s contractors examine each case of a pre-existing meter box to establish if existing meter boxes can be reused. To date, in excess of 50,000 meter boxes have been reused nationwide.  However, in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department has not received a specific proposal from Wicklow County Council relating to housing stock in Arklow. However, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Section 5.6 of the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines advises planning authorities that there should be at least a 500 metre distance from the nearest wind turbine to any noise sensitive property.Such properties would include homes and schools. The 2006 Guidelines - which are currently the subject of a focused review and will be finalised as soon as possible - were issued to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The ArklowSewerage Scheme was included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013as a scheme to commence construction within the period of the Programme. This scheme was made up of 3 contracts; 2 network contracts – South Green & Harbour Road, and Northern and Southern interceptors and a separate Wastewater Treatment Plant DBO contract....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Maritime Spatial Planning (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The development of a framework for maritime spatial planning is one of the actions set out in Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland.Implementation of actions identified in the plan is supervised by the Marine Coordination Group, which is chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Furthermore, the EU adopted Directive 2014/89/EU which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The definitive number of estates with developer - provided water services infrastructure is not known. However, preliminary analysis undertaken in 2013 by my Department, in consultation with the Water Services Transition Office and with Irish Water, indicates that, nationally, there may be approximately 800 residential developments with developer-provided stand-alone wastewater treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Transport (19 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department has spent €130,946, €168,083, €220,469 and €215,514 on Ministerial transport arrangements in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 , respectively. In line with Government policy, I do not use a state car. My Department employs two civilian drivers for driving duties in my own car in line with approved arrangements. The same arrangements were in place for my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates of duty applicable for the half-yearly and quarterly options are calculated at 28.25% and 55.5% of the annual rate respectively. The number of seats in a vehicle is not a determinant in arriving at the non-annual rates. This additional cost element takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Services for People with Disabilities (18 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. This represents an increase in funding of more than 10% per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 ,509, 518 ,522, 526 ,490 and 491 together. In April 2014, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill. The Bill is listed among the Bills expected to be published during the Autumn Session, as part of the Government’s Legislation Programme. Drafting of the Bill is currently being finalised...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 513 together. Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses. I intend to make the necessary statutory instruments in the coming months to enable the scheme to come into operation. Local authority tenant purchase does not involve the transfer of specific...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provisions made for the area in Budget 2015. The overall social housing funding provision for 2015 has been increased by in excess of €200 million, with capital funding increasing by €180 million, which will allow for significant expansion in social housing provision. The specific allocations to be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Area Enhancement Scheme (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Public Area Enhancement Scheme was a scheme to support community efforts by providing grant funding to local authorities for the purpose of enhancing public areas before and during the summer tourist season. The scheme provided funding, additional to that provided for in the 2014 local authority budget, for works related to public area enhancement. While the scheme was not absolutely...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Conservation (18 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I am fully supportive of technologies which contribute to the conservation of water. Rainwater harvesting has the potential to benefit the environment and contribute to reducing the cost of water services for certain uses. The introduction of a grants scheme for water conservation would have to be considered in the context of the available budgetary resources. The introduction of any tax...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (18 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 from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. This represents an increase in...