Results 18,801-18,820 of 20,895 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (16 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: In the overall draft Rural Development Programme for Ireland for the period 2014 – 2020, which was submitted to the European Commission in July 2014, the 5 main cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick have been excluded. In addition, the governing EU Regulations require that areas to be covered by Local Development Strategies under the LEADER element of the Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (16 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Question No. 280 of 12 November 2013, which sets out the arrangements currently in place to encourage the use of rainwater harvesting and to promote water efficiency in the built environment. I have no plans to obligate homeowners to install rainwater harvesting systems in new houses. However, by referencing such systems in the building code, as has been done, my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (16 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: In accordance with the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998, the requirement for dogs of certain breeds to be securely muzzled in a public place and being led by a sufficiently strong chain or leash, by a person over the age of sixteen years who is capable of controlling the dog, does not apply to dogs being used for the purpose of guidance by persons unable to find their way without guidance....

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: This is a milestone budget. It shows that we are slowly becoming a normal economy again, where we are neither throwing money around for the sake of short-term popularity nor squeezing savings out of already pressured public services. It is as progressive as it is prudent and realistic. Lower and middle income earners are gaining proportionately more than the better off. Many sections of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together. The operation of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, including the establishment and maintenance of shelters for dogs and the destruction of dogs in a shelter in a humane manner is a matter for the relevant local authority. No ministerial guidelines have issued in relation to the issue outlined.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nuclear Plants (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 135, inclusive, 158 and 159 together. While Ireland does not have a nuclear power industry, it is our position that, where a State chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this should be done in accordance with the highest international standards with respect to safety and environmental protection. Ireland’s priority is the safety of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 146 together. Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, sets out the process by which local authorities can take in charge housing estates. When taking an estate in charge under the terms of this provision, a planning authority must take in charge any roads, open spaces, car parks, sewers, water mains or drains within the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Supply (15 Oct 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 including the roll-out of the domestic water metering programme. Most meters for public utilities are located at the point where the connection enters the household. In the case of water services, under the provisions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 141, inclusive, 143, 145, 148, 154 and 155 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 551 to 554, inclusive, 557 to 560, inclusive, and 579 of 30 September 2014, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Remuneration (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: No staff member in my Department has received performance related pay in the years 2011 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 150 together. Under the Water Services Acts 2007-2013, Irish Water may request its customers and certain specified persons or bodies, including the Minister for Social Protection, to provide it with information so that it can perform its functions under these Acts. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water is responsible for public...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Funding under the LEADER element of the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme is now fully committed. T here are commitments well in excess of what is required to ensure full draw down of the EU contribution; therefore, any project funding which is de-committed at this stage will not be re-committed. I expect, however, that the LEADER element of the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water was established under Statute with a legal prohibition on privatisation. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, to be formed and registered under the Companies Acts. Section 5 of the Act provides that the shareholders of Irish Water are Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 527 and 528 of 7 October 2014 which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Recruitment (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Since 1 January 2014, my Department has received 184 staff sanction requests from Dublin City Council and 73 staff sanction requests from Fingal County Council. The status of these requests is set out in the table. Dublin City Council Fingal County Council 65 requests approved 51 requests approved 116 requests pending 21 requests pending 1 request withdrawn 1 request withdrawn ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (15 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Proposals for social housing delivery in an individual area are a matter in the first instance for the housing authority concerned, taking account of its statutory functions under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2014, national policies in relation to social housing and the financial resources available to the authority to provide social housing support. The Social Housing Strategy, which is being...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (15 Oct 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, including the rollout of the domestic water metering programme. Irish Water has confirmed that there are two types of meters being installed as part of this programme.  These were selected as part of an open procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (14 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I have no plans to change the basis of charging motor tax from engine capacity to carbon emissions (CO2) for cars registered prior to 2008. The question of applying the CO2based system to all cars was the subject of detailed discussion at the time of introduction of the new basis of taxation in 2008. Any retrospective application would not have been possible as the CO2data available for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (14 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water's costs in the coming years will be funded through a mix of revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, third party finance (including bank lending and capital markets facilities) and State support which may be in the form of both equity and subvention. In order to provide for free allowances and give greater visibility on the expected level of water charges, the...