Results 18,961-18,980 of 21,042 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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Fingal County Council 65 requests approved 51 requests approved 116 requests pending 21 requests pending 1 request withdrawn 1 request withdrawn ...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...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 to 292, inclusive, together. With effect from 1st January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water, including Irish Water, are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 339 together. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services and is responsible for dealing with queries. I understand from Irish Water that queries from the general public to Irish Water are received in the form of phone calls, post, email or other online media format (twitter etc.). Since the start of the year...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 294, 313 and 331 together. I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 2 07, 215, 208, 209, 210 and 211 of 8 October 2014. The position is unchanged. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at or by telephone on 1890 278 278.

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

Alan Kelly: The following table sets out the cumulative number of water meters installed under the National Metering Programme at each month end to the end September 2014. Month Cumulative Number of water meters  installed Aug-13 1,273 Sep-13 6,055 Oct-13 18,111 Nov-13 55,233 Dec-13 78,981 Jan-14 107,052 Feb-14 135,372 Mar-14 170,120 Apr-14 205,496 May-14 248,113 ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (14 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: There is currently a civil remedy available concerning branches or roots of neighbouring treesencroaching on a person’s property. The previous Minister of State for Housing and Planning wrote to the Minister for Justice in June 2012 to explore the possibility of providing a broader civil law remedy for affected parties in situations such as that outlined. In this regard, advice was...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 300 together. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and that the water charges plan prepared by Irish Water is subject to...

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

Alan Kelly: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Irish Water is responsible for water services infrastructure including water supply pipes or drainage pipes extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a private dwelling. Under section 54 of the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for maintenance of the water distribution...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality (14 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. I have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the management, operation or maintenance of water services infrastructure. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available...

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

Alan Kelly: Under this current phase of the National Metering Programme, water meters are being installed outside domestic residences on publically-accessible land, at the location of the existing Outside Stop Valve. These meters are being installed in line with the survey results as carried out by each local authority in advance of the Metering Programme commencing, and as legislated for under the Water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Reform (14 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Subject to age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Irish citizens alone are entitled to vote at all elections and referendums. EU citizens may vote at European Parliament and local elections; non-EU citizens may vote at local elections. In addition, British citizens are also eligible to vote at...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (14 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides, inter alia, a statutory framework for the closer alignment of the local government and local development sectors. A key element of the framework is the establishment of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in local authorities for the purpose of achieving a more joined-up approach to local and community development programming. LCDCs...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Services Staff (14 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.  Information regarding the number of librarians in each local authority is not collated by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Services Provision (14 Oct 2014)

Alan Kelly: Opportunities for All, a Strategy for Public Libraries 2013-2017, recommends “a review of existing organisation structures - to establish stronger, more effective and efficient public libraries in the context of local government reform and shared services and new opportunities afforded by the strategy outcomes”. A working group was established to examine the potential for...