Results 21-40 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Services (2 Feb 2016)

Ann Phelan: While my Department has overall policy responsibility for the public library service, primary responsibility for matters relating to the operation and management of public libraries, including matters related to health and safety, rests with each local authority. I understand, however, that this matter has been brought directly to the attention of the relevant local authority, including...

Social Housing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: No, the legislation was watered down by the previous Government, as Deputy Collins knows well.

Social Housing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputies on both sides of the House for their commonsense contributions. This is an opportunity for me to restate the Government's position on tackling the significant challenges associated with the delivery of social housing. This Government's ambitious programme of social housing delivery, Social Housing Strategy 2020, sets out clear, measurable actions to increase the supply...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (27 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and note how it affects many householders. As the House will be aware, the Government, local authorities and Irish Water are continuing to deliver on an ambitious transformation programme in the water services sector. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (27 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I have sympathy for the issue the Senator has raised. The recent floods have thrown up anomalies in these areas and about who has responsibility for this and that. When I was on Kilkenny County Council - it is the same in Carlow - the local authority did not have responsibility for water pipes on private property. It was the owners who had responsibility in that respect. The Senator might...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (27 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: The submission and evaluation of LEADER strategies is progressing well.  To date, 19 LEADER strategies have been submitted in respect of 18 areas, with two or more strategies submitted for only one area so far. Two strategies were approved in December, subject to some minor additional work required on both, and I anticipate that we will be in a position to sign contracts with these Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Welfare (26 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I am aware of the matter referred to in the Question. It is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the specific details of the case. In general, however, and in accordance with the Control of Dogs Act 1986, the provision of dog shelters, measures to control dogs and the humane putting to sleep of dogs is the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Cuanta agus Céanna (26 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: Chuir an Rialtas €8 milliún ar fáil i bPlean Caipitil 2016-2021 chun cé Inis Oírr a fhorbairt. Bhí mo Roinn i dteagbháil cheana féin le Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe maidir leis an togra seo agus beidh an Roinn ag bualadh leis an gComhairle ar ball féachaint leis an togra a thionscnamh agus é a chur chun tosaigh.

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Development Programme Funding (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: The funding for any such financial instruments would have to be drawn on the existing rural development programme allocation of the European agriculture fund for rural development, as well as national Exchequer funding. The door is not closed on this one. Just yesterday, officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine held a meeting with officials from the Department of...

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Social Housing Provision (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I do not necessarily disagree with the Deputy that we should have acted sooner. We all should have done many things before we reached this point. I must admit delivery was extremely slow in the early stages of this process, given the mechanism for delivery of social housing was novel to all parties concerned. Such novelty was accompanied by the added complexity of getting agreement from...

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Development Programme Funding (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: Under the regulations governing the European Structural and Investment Funds, including the rural development programme, RDP, it is open to member states to fund interventions via financial instruments. Essentially, financial instruments offer an alternative to the traditional grant-based approach whereby schemes under the RDP may be funded via loans, guarantee funds or equity investments....

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Social Housing Provision (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: Since December 2011, my Department has been working closely with NAMA, local authorities and approved housing bodies to maximise the social housing output available from the properties that are part of the security for loans which NAMA has acquired. To the end of December 2015, a total of 2,000 NAMA residential properties have been secured for social housing use. This comprises over 1,400...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Adaptation Grant (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I know it is an extremely important issue, particularly for the people on those lists who are waiting for work to be done to their homes in order that they can alleviate the impact of some of the situations to which the Senator referred. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government provides funding to local authorities under...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Adaptation Grant (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I understand there are complexities and I acknowledge the level of priority the Senator is talking about. If he will forward the list of the most urgent cases he is dealing with, I will undertake to bring them to the Minister's attention to see if we can examine them in that way. Now that the Department is aware of the position in Cork, I will undertake to look into this to see if we can...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue, as it gives me an opportunity to update the House on the matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The majority of the policy decisions, first announced in the action programme for effective local government, Putting People First, and subsequently given statutory effect under the Local...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I take the Senator's points on board and, perhaps at some point in the future, they will deserve to be debated. However, the process with the advisory group is well advanced and, because the process has begun, it is prudent to hear what the group has to say before we begin to make more changes and to see how the changes are bedding in before we try to undo the the process. I draw the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Redundancy Payments (21 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: My Department has no role in the internal operations of any private organisations and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage. In relation to the details supplied by the Deputy , discussions between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are on-going. There is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Closed Circuit Television Systems (19 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: My Department has provided €50,000 towards the cost of a pilot rural CCTV initiative located in Laois. This is in addition to the €20,000 raised locally towards the overall cost of the project. CCTV cameras will be located in strategic positions in rural locations, with the aim of increasing public safety and deterring criminal or anti-social behaviour. The images from the...

Convention on the Constitution Final Reports: Statements (14 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: I am pleased to have this opportunity to provide the Government's formal response to the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention contained in its fifth report. Members will be aware of the Government's approach in this matter as the opportunity was taken in launching Global Irish - Ireland's Diaspora Policy last March to outline the Government's position on the fifth report of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Job Creation (14 Jan 2016)

Ann Phelan: As the Deputy will be aware, specific programmes for creating and maintaining employment are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. However, in the context of supporting the sustainable development of communities all over Ireland, my Department does have a remit which includes support for the development of rural towns and villages. As part of this remit...