Results 19,281-19,300 of 21,040 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for the question and I welcome the opportunity to address it. As outlined in the draft rural development programme 2014-20, submitted to the European Commission in July 2014, it is intended that Ireland will use a two-step process to select local development strategies for the delivery of the Leader elements of the programme. Step one of the process, which is due to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Yes, it is possible to have different companies administering the two areas. Whether it is likely is a different question but it is possible. There are 28 LAGs and there are no plans to change what has been announced, which includes one in Galway. The Deputy has raised the issue through various outlets. The issue is to ensure consistency of approach. There is a specific issue in respect...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is important that An Bord Pleanála be above vested interests and I have no reason to believe it is not. The Deputy's allegations are serious and I have no reason to believe them. While he has not named the individual concerned, it is clear that the person can be identified. If the Deputy has other information which he believes is necessary to be made available to prove the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Application Numbers (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Not until 2016.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. I am sure they will always be extended. It is unclear as to which member or members of An Bord Pleanála the Deputy is referring. The process for making appointments to the board is governed by the Planning and Development Act 2000. The board operates under a code of conduct as required by section 150 of the Act. One of the purposes of the code...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Section 150 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires An Bord Pleanála to adopt a code of conduct for members and its employees. The code is a comprehensive document and it is intended that the board will adhere to it. Specific requirements under the code prohibit membership of political parties or organisations involved in planning, provide for a declaration of interests to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I want to point out to the Deputy that there are legacy issues relating to the setting up of Irish Water. The Deputy's party was in government long enough to know what they are. One of these legacy issues is the fact that the people of Roscommon do not have a water service that is appropriate. It is disgraceful that this was left the length of time that it was and that there was no...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The CER is an independent regulator.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Deputy said people had been on boil-water notices for the past 12 months. In some cases, they have been on boil-water notices for up to 12 years, so to have the Deputy throwing that out, given his background, borders on the ridiculous. The reason this utility was set up was to have a framework whereby we can invest in water provision for the future and ensure that this ridiculous...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is a very youthful team.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: In advance of the enactment of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, did not have full economic regulatory powers in regard to the water sector, but did have powers to advise the Minister. In that context, on 22 October 2013, my predecessor approved a request from the Department to seek advice from CER on new costs arising in the establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I presume the Question is referring to the issue of waste collection permits required to be held by all waste collectors. Waste collection in Ireland is subject to compliance with applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, primarily the Waste Management Act 1996 and conditions attached to each waste collector’s collection permit issued under the Waste Management...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013, having operated for four years with funding of €281m over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis for 2014 with a budget of €47m, pending the roll out of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (17 Sep 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. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014 , were subject to an appraisal process. My predecessor was anxious to make funding available to as many...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Collection (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence. The NPPR charge is based on self-declaration and therefore the onus is on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes funding for new group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. Generally, the selection and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme is a matter for the local authorities. The National Rural Water Services Committee, which has a role in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Deposits (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The private rented sector is an increasingly important element of the housing market, with the proportion of households in the sector almost doubling in the period 2006-2011. I am conscious of the difficulties caused by rising rents and the problem of sourcing suitable accommodation, especially in Dublin and other urban centres. The most recent published data from the Private Residential...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates applicable for the half-yearly and quarterly options are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively. These relativities have remained generally consistent since the 1960s. The estimated additional annual income from the increased charges for half-yearly and quarterly discs is in the region of €50m....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Projects (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I assume the Question relates to my Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP). The LCDP is one of the State’s main social inclusion programmes. Its aim is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. The programme currently provides funding...