Results 19,341-19,360 of 21,040 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: Under the provisions of the Local Government (Rates) Act 1970, a rating authority may make and carry out a scheme providing for the waiver by the authority of all or a portion of commercial rates due by ratepayers in respect of a specified class or classes of property. The making of such a scheme is subject to the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. ...

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

Alan Kelly: I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including providing a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and, therefore, a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services. It will provide greater local scope for financial decision-making concerning service provision and, therefore, a strengthening of democracy at local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1484, 1487 and 1552 together. In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the Local Action Groups (LAGs) are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development...

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

Alan Kelly: In February 2014 the General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014 was published for consultation. The General Scheme is part of the legislative process to implement the 1979 constitutional amendment to extend the Seanad franchise to graduates from institutions of higher education in the State that heretofore did not form part of the Seanad university...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, a fire authority is entitled to charge users or beneficiaries of a fire service for services which it provides. I do not have any role in approving or consenting to the levying of such charges, which is solely a matter for each local authority. I understand that most fire authorities operate waiver schemes in respect of fire service call-out...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1489, 1563 and 1564 together. At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the stressful situations which individuals face when building works are not completed to the required acceptable standard. In November 2013, my Department was made aware through reports in the media of a potential problem with concrete blocks in County Donegal. In addition, in recent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework within which the pyrite remediation scheme must operate. It is not a compensation scheme and section 14(8) of the Act specifically states that homeowners cannot seek the recoupment of costs associated with the remediation of a dwelling undertaken prior to the commencement of the scheme. The pyrite remediation scheme is a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the company the necessary powers to allow it to undertake the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: There were two distinct phases of severe weather which affected the country last winter, from 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 and from 27 January to 17 February 2014. My Department had an initial role in coordinating and collating details and costs of damage in the immediate aftermath of the severe weather, based on returns and estimates provided by local authorities. On foot of a report...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the Local Action Groups (LAGs) are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Data (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1495 and 1497 together. The information requested is set out in the following tables: - - Departures and Expected Departures Period Number Estimated Annual Savings 2013 (July - December) 28 €1,524,080 2014 62 €4,260,979 2015 8 €521,972 2016 9 €694,131 Total 107 €7,001,162 Starters &...

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

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1496 and 1498 together. My Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The total number of staff employed by all local authorities at the end of June 2013 was 28,667.72 on a whole time equivalent basis (wte). The total number of staff employed by all local authorities at the end of December 2013 was 27,501.51 (wte), a decrease of...

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

Alan Kelly: In April 2014, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill. The Bill, which is listed among the Bills expected to be published during the Autumn Sessionas part of the Government’s Legislation Programme, is currently being drafted within the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Once the final Bill is approved by Government, my...

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

Alan Kelly: As Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, my role in relation to the planning system is to oversee the provision and updating of the planning legislative and policy framework, including as articulated through statutory planning guidelines, to secure the proper planning and sustainable development of the country as a whole, including urban areas. While responsibility...

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

Alan Kelly: Section 34(8) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that a planning authority shall make its decision on a planning application within the period of 8 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application. Accordingly, planning authorities normally decide planning application within 8 weeks, unless further information is required. Where...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing needs through a variety of mechanisms. On 14 May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. The Strategy contains 75 Actions in total and my Department, together with the Housing Agency, will be involved in the delivery of over 30 of...

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

Alan Kelly: The proposals outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Governmentseek to position local government “as the primary vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and local communities effectively and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1504, 1508, 1509, 1574 and 1621 together. 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 can 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1505, 1513, 1527, 1550 and 1555 together. Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses. This scheme will replace the 1995 and 2011 tenant purchase schemes under section 90 of the Housing Act 1966, which closed in June 2014 and June 2013, respectively. The new...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Local Government Act 1946 provides that where a property in a county council or urban local authority area is unoccupied on the date of the making of the rate, the owner becomes liable for rates. However, the owner is entitled to a refund if the property is vacant for specified purposes i.e. if the premises are unoccupied for the purpose of additions, alterations or repairs; where the...