Results 22,221-22,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Question No. 367 on yesterday’s Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Credit Unions (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The agreed Programme for a Partnership Governmentrecognises the potential role that credit unions can play in housing finance and supports the efforts of the Registrar of Credit Unions at the Central Bank to gradually lift current lending restrictions as appropriate, including for housing. The Programme further provides that we will investigate with all stakeholders how credit unions can...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Targets in respect of social housing delivery via a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes were set for each local authority out to 2017 and are available on my Department’s website, along with the associated provisional funding allocations, at the following link: . Almost €87 million has been allocated to Kildare County Council for the delivery of 1,283 social...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: 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 the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is no indication from areas where pay-by-weight charging has already been implemented that there has been increased evidence of dumping. In addition, a comprehensive pay-by- weight awareness campaign is currently being rolled out, which includes practical advice for householders on reducing and segregating their waste and thereby minimising their costs. Notwithstanding the above,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. The Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on the collection of household waste carried out in 2012 analysed in depth the household waste collection market and gave a comprehensive overview of the market structure and industry in Ireland. It recognised that concentration had occurred in the market, as larger firms expanded, in part by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I understand that Veterinary Ireland is undertaking an in-depth policy review at present, which includes, inter alia, an examination of the effectiveness of the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998. As this review, which is a matter solely for Veterinary Ireland, has not yet been finalised, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together. Provision was made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 for a new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses. Following the necessary preparatory work the new Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: As housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area and the development of appropriate responses to the need identified. This can include the development of single rural dwellings where identified and prioritised by local authorities. Targets in respect of social housing delivery via a combination of building, buying and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Non-Payment (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Rates income data are published by local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The official...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: 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. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ieor by telephone on 1890 578 578. The Water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by Kildare County Council that the securing of a satisfactory conclusion to the development of the Naas Town Centre site has been a particular focus of its efforts over the last number of years. In this connection, the Council - on foot of arbitration procedures - recently successfully completed an agreement with one of two site owners relating to the provision of roads...

Priority Questions: Building Regulations (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations were introduced in 2014 in response to serious concerns for public safety which arose from the prevalence of failed or seriously defective homes following the economic crisis and the collapse of the building sector. The regulations require that compliance with building regulations must be verified through the execution of an inspection plan that...

Priority Questions: Building Regulations (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: To add weight to what I outlined earlier, according to figures published last week by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland on the cost of building a house, professional fees represent 2% of the cost, which is about €5,000. Part of that cost was the assigned certifier. There had been accusations that an additional cost of €10,000 or €20,000 was attached to this...

Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: In October 2015, the Government approved a programme to deliver 500 units of rapid-delivery housing across the Dublin region for homeless families currently residing in commercial hotels. InNovember 2015, Dublin City Council entered into a contract for the delivery of the 22 units in Ballymun at a cost of €4.2 million excluding VAT. This is the original tender cost and remains the...

Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Sometimes there is a misunderstanding regarding the difference between rapid-build technologies and engineering solutions and modular housing units as if we are somehow building the trailers parks of the future. That is not what we are doing. Anybody who has visited the Ballymun project has seen houses that look like many other houses that have been built through normal construction...

Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Housing is a key priority for this Government and, as outlined in the programme for a partnership Government, I will prepare an action plan for housing within the Government's first 100 days, working with other Government colleagues. We hope to do this by the end of July or the middle of August. The action plan will build on the considerable work already carried out or under way, and will...

Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: First of all, we will monitor. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to do that in a very transparent way by reporting on progress on a quarterly basis. There will be individual plans and targets set for each local authority in the country. Obviously the most pressure will be on the four Dublin local authorities, the two in Cork and those in Limerick, Galway and Waterford,...

Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: What I have said to chief executives is that if they have a human resource or people power issue that is preventing them from getting on with meeting the targets that we need to set for the new ambition, I need to know about it, and we will speak to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to see if we can get them the people they need. Certainly, from my Department's perspective, we...