Results 19,401-19,420 of 21,040 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: I have no plans to amend the capital loan and subsidy scheme. Plans in relation to the future delivery of social housing are now being considered in the context of the new Social Housing Strategy, which it is intended will be considered by Government in the coming weeks. The Strategy will contain clear, measureable actions to increase the supply of social housing, based on innovative...

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

Alan Kelly: The following are the funding allocations to Dublin City Council for the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability over the period 2011 to 2013. For 2014, the figure shown is the funding drawn down to 11 September 2014: 2011 2012 2013 2014 €8,689,330 €9,518,318 €5,512,886 €1,402,300 Dublin City Council’s...

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

Alan Kelly: My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by...

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

Alan Kelly: Government’s key policy objectives have been set out in both the Programme for Government and in the Statement of Government Priorities which was published in July 2014. I will lead those actions within my remit, particularly in relation to addressing housing needs through a number of actions including revision of planning legislation and the development and implementation of a new...

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

Alan Kelly: While it is not possible to put a definite timeframe on the duration of the pyrite remediation scheme and on the completion of remediation works to all homes affected by significant pyritic damage, the initial phase of the scheme will deal with up to 1,000 dwellings which, it is estimated, are in need of repair over the two year period ending in 2015 . The position post-2015 will be dealt...

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

Alan Kelly: Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 - which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport – provides that where a tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation is a hazard or potential hazard to persons using a public road or where it obstructs or interferes with the safe use of a public road or with the maintenance of a public road, a road authority may...

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

Alan Kelly: Motor tax on cars registered prior to July 2008 is calculated on the engine capacity of the car. I have no plans to review the basis of charging motor tax for these vehicles to take seating capacity into account. It should be noted that the average increase in motor tax for cars taxed on engine capacity was 7.5% in Budgets 2012 and 2013, considerably less than the increases applied to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Impact Statements (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Section 172(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that an environmental impact assessment must be carried out by a planning authority or An Bord Pleanala , as the case may be, in respect of an application for consent for - (a) proposed development of a class specified in Schedule 5 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 which exceeds a quantity, area...

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

Alan Kelly: The provision of a fire service in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 2001. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy, provision of training...

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

Alan Kelly: Capital allocations to local authorities amounting to €38.4m under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability were announced on 16 January 2014. Every local authority received increased funding for these grants in 2014 compared to the 2013 allocations. My Department provides 80% funding for these schemes, with a 20% contribution from the local...

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

Alan Kelly: The statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments in 2013 showed that there were 89,872 households on local authority waiting lists as at 7 May 2013. This represents a 9% decrease on the previous summary of 2011 and is the most up-to-date figure available on waiting list numbers, which are subject to on-going fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Ireland has an ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction target under the 2009 EU Effort-Sharing Decision (406/2009/EC) for each year between 2013 and 2020.  The extent of the challenge posed by these emission reduction targets is well understood by Government, as reflected in the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development and the General...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments Data (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: Budget 2014 contains a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF), to assist further in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments. The SRF is designed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not...

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

Alan Kelly: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the...

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

Alan Kelly: The information requested is set out in the tables below. Department Appointments Grade No of Appointments Secretary General 1 Assistant Secretary General 5 Principal Officer 13 Assistant Principal Officer 19 Higher Executive Officer 2 Executive Officer 15 Staff Officer 1 Clerical Officer 3 Special Adviser* 5 Personal Assistant * 6 Personal Secretary* 6 ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Sector Staff Increment Payments (17 Sep 2014)

Alan Kelly: In accordance with the Haddington Road Agreement 37 staff in my Department have been subject to a deferral of an incremental payment of between 3 and 6 months in 2014. In addition, incremental progression has been suspended for 3 years in respect of 2 further staff at my Department. The corresponding information in terms of Agencies and Local Authorities is not held in my Department.

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

Alan Kelly: There were 28 officers in my Department availing of career breaks at the time the Haddington Road Agreement came into effect on 1 July 2013. The present status of these officers is as follows: 9 returned to a position in my Department shortly after the period of their career break expired as they had indicated they wished to do so; a further 2 officers were facilitated in a position in...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I commend the Deputy on his passion for this issue which he has raised on many occasions before. We will continue to deliver social housing units from all available sources. I am acutely aware of the difficulties caused by rising rents and the problems of sourcing suitable accommodation, particularly in Dublin, but also in other urban areas and large towns. I am looking at all finance...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank Deputy Broughan for his good wishes. I appreciate them. Deputy Broughan may have heard it before but I personally am determined to deal with this issue for many of the reasons he stated. It has been re-prioritised by Government. It is a top priority. I will give all the hours I can to try and deal with this issue because it is wrong that we have such a housing situation in this...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill 2014: Second Stage (17 Jul 2014)

Alan Kelly: I sincerely thank everyone for his or her good wishes, which I appreciate. The Bill is very technical. I ask for support for it on the basis that whether one likes the legislation or not, the democratic process must continue. We can debate the merits and demerits of the process in place, but that is what is there at the moment and it must be initiated. I thank the Members who are...