Results 18,881-18,900 of 21,042 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Expenditure (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The amount spent by local authorities in the last ten years on the installation of water meters for the provision of water services for commercial and mixed use (commercial and domestic) customers is a matter for each individual authority and the information requested is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Staff (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises and equipment for use by fire service personnel , is a matter for individual fire authorities under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act s 1981 and 2003. My Department, through the National Directorate for Fire...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: 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 attendant grounds of the development. The Water Services...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to charge for water services. The Act also provides that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the economic regulation of Irish water and the charges to be levied by Irish Water will be subject to the approval of the CER. The CER has already undertaken public consultations on the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (22 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The tender processes for energy retrofitting works to local authority houses is the responsibility of each housing authority. I understand that the National Local Government Procurement Office in Kerry established a multi-party framework agreement for housing authorities to access and use in respect of these contracts and it was then an option for each housing authority to use this...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: -----that I believe this is too expensive but again I point out, as stated previously, that this has not been finalised and it will be subject to the approval, as everyone knows, of CER. I also point out that the use of such services is not mandatory. As the system of charging and water services delivery through a national utility beds down there will be an ongoing need for accountability...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: -----through parliamentary questions, engagement between Irish Water and elected representatives on an individual level-----

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: -----and at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. This scrutiny is in addition to the various forms of accountability that Irish Water is subject to including the submission of an annual report on the performance of its functions to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government; the laying before the Oireachtas of the company's annual...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Government, on the other hand, has a vision. It is a vision for a country in which every household connected to public water supplies has a high quality, reliable water supply and has established a relationship with this new, national utility that is based on customer service, reliability and good communications. It is a vision for an adequately funded water and wastewater system in...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Deputy Martin is very funny.

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Tonight's debate is an important opportunity for all sides of this House to support this vision.

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is an opportunity for the House to end the negative criticism that offers no solutions or constructive ideas. Let us get behind this ambitious, far-reaching reform programme and focus on the long-term benefits for all of us and for future generations through a water utility of which we can all be proud.

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I know the man well. He is a good man. Irish Water must engage with its customers in a new way and with a new style. The brand of Irish Water must be repositioned in the public mind. Despite some protests, the metering programme is being successfully rolled out, with some 458,000 meters already installed, which will benefit overall water conservation and allow customers to manage their...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I will get the Deputy a copy. This needs to happen urgently and the Government will drive this. It is clear there has to be a seismic shift in how Irish Water interfaces with the public. Clarity and certainty has to be given to members of the public about the charges they will pay. I assure the House that the Government is working with Ervia and Irish Water to ensure these issues are...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: This was done on the basis that these initial costs will enable the company to drive substantial cost savings and service quality improvements over the immediate period to end 2016 and for many years to come. The CER is responsible for setting performance standards for the new utility, examining its costs with a view to approving, amending or rejecting its "water charges plan" and...

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Are you going to borrow it?

Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. a1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “supports the establishment of Irish Water as a long-term strategic investment project to deliver the necessary water services infrastructure and quality of services required to meet statutory compliance and demographic needs, benefitting Irish citizens and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013. The primary purpose of the Act is to replace the system whereby a vehicle was declared off the road retrospectively with a system under which the vehicle must be declared off the road in advance. The system of making retrospective declarations had become a means of evasion of motor tax estimated to have cost the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 560 together. On 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessnesswas published in which the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website at, . This plan sets out a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nuclear Plants (21 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 to 555, inclusive, together. The position as outlined in the reply to Questions Nos. 158, 159, 132, 133, 134 and 135 of 15October 2014 is unchanged. Full written details of the decision by the European Commission in relation to State Aid rules are not yet available from the Commission. When these details are received, they will be examined and a...