Results 18,501-18,520 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Investment Programme was a multi-annual investment plan for the provision of major water and sewerage schemes. The first rolling 3-year Water Services Investment Programme was launched in July 2000 to meet identified water services needs. The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013was the last such plan, and is available in the Oireachtas library along with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: In October 2013 Ireland received Infringement notification by Letter of Formal Notice from the European Commission in relation to perceived failures to fulfil obligations under Articles 3, 4, 5, 10 and 12 of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). My Department provided detailed material in relation to the various agglomerations, and Ireland’s efforts to bring...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The steering group was established in June 2011 to oversee the independent assessment on the transfer of responsibility for water provision from local authorities to a water utility which was required under the Programme of Financial Support for Ireland with the EU/IMF/ECB. The group is chaired by my Department at Assistant Secretary level.As well as my own Department, membership is drawn...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: As stated in the reply to Questions Nos 239 and 240 of 6 November 2014, the employment terms and conditions for Irish Water staff are a matter for the company. I understand that the pay model is not a new model put in place by Irish Water but was inherited from the parent company Ervia. Like other commercial semi-state bodies, pay models are negotiated between management and unions and are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Appointments (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: 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. This joint union/management group was established , with Mr. Kevin Foley of the Labour Relations Commission as an independent chair , to provide a mechanism for regular...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply given to Question No. 171 of 27 February 2014 which sets out the statutory framework in relation to the control of building activity in general and in the context of the particular problems which have arisen in relation to the properties referred to in the question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: In order to support housing authorities in the control and management of social housing stock, Part 2 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new court procedure for the repossession of local authority dwellings in the case of a breach of the tenancy agreement, including anti-social behaviour. The Act also strengthens the powers of housing authorities to obtain...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (13 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. To this end, they have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require specified...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Following the completion of consultation in the matter with the Minister for Health, I have decided that Irish Water customers with high water consumption due to medical conditions will have their bills capped at the relevant assessed charge, on the basis of self-declaration of eligibility. This will apply even where a water meter has been installed and will ensure that those customers will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Funding (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: A breakdown of the funding by my Department to Ballymun Regeneration Ltd over the period 2008 to 2013 in respect of the physical, social and economic regeneration of Ballymun is set out in the following table: Year Amount 2008 75,000,000 2009 63,577,376 2010 40,001,618 2011 20,519,155 2012 30,000,000 2013 18,919,515 TOTAL 248,017,664 A capital provision of €10 million has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, prescribe the current planning application fees. Any proposed changes to the fees, which were last increased in 1998, would require the endorsement of the Oireachtas pursuant to section 262 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. While planning application fees are kept under regular review in my Department, I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The downturn in economic activity associated with the recession has resulted in significant numbers of shop closures and vacant units in town centres. Other factors, such as upward only rent reviews, parking charges, rising energy costs and on-line trading have also undermined the viability of small and medium-sized businesses in the retail sector, threatening the fabric of our urban...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Infrastructure (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not compile statistical data on the amount of lead or asbestos piping in the water infrastructure system. Irish Water has informed my Department that of its estimated 58,000 kilometres of distribution system, there is a very small proportion of lead piping, consisting of approximately 190 short lengths across 14 local authorities. Irish Water is working to achieve the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not compile statistical data relating to water consumption. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commiss ion for Energy Regulation (CER). In preparing its Water Charges Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) and that the new company should be formed and registered under the Companies Acts. The Memorandum and Articles of Association, which were adopted by Irish Water on its incorporation in July 2013, provide that the appointment of directors to the Board of Irish Water is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (12 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. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water is committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible. Water Meter installation contractors examine each case to establish if existing meter boxes can be reused. In this instance it was not possible to reuse the pre-existing boxes as they were flooded with water and therefore not suitable to have a meter installed. 

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Numbers (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is a matter for each local authority, including Sligo County Council, to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (12 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department currently supports an ambitious programme of regeneration which seeks to address key aspects of disadvantage in communities and large social housing estates and flat complexes through holistic programmes of physical, social and economic regeneration. Some €70m is being provided in 2014 to support the completion or continuation of regeneration projects at a number of...