Results 22,741-22,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is nothing wrong with it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: We are trying to provide homes which are affordable and in areas where people want to live. For people who are not able to afford to rent or buy their own homes we want to make sure we will have social housing to meet their needs. That is what we are trying to do with multiple challenges in a housing market that is fundamentally broken and we are trying to fix. While we are building 12,000...

Other Questions: Housing Provision (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: One particular case which the Deputy mentioned earlier has triggered this question. I have looked at it and its outcome. Ultimately, it is up to local authorities to make the judgment on whether a family are homeless or not before they provides emergency accommodation for them. It is important that I do not try to micro-manage by telling them what to do. There is a judgment call that...

Other Questions: Housing Provision (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The criteria are included in the legislation. The Housing Act 1998 states: "A person shall be regarded by a housing authority as being homeless for the purposes of this Act if (a) there is no accommodation available which, in the opinion of the authority, he, together with any other person who normally resides with him or who might reasonably be expected to reside with him, can reasonably...

Other Questions: Housing Provision (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: Perhaps the best body with which to raise this issue is the Dublin regional homeless executive which is trying to co-ordinate responses. I will raise it with it and we will have a look at the guidelines. We need to make sure the most genuine cases are prioritised and that we minimise mistakes. There can be serious consequences if and when that happens.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 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 level. This includes the domestic water metering programme. Irish Water's revenue shortfall arising from the proposed suspension of domestic water charges in 2016 is under consideration. I intend to bring my proposals on this matter...

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: I do not mind allowing the two Opposition Deputies put their questions and I can respond to the two of them.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: To put this into context, approximately 840,000 water meters have been installed and many people do not have a problem with that. The Deputy talks about this issue as if every person in the country is trying to block water meters being installed in respect of their own water systems, but that is not the case. Some people have real objections to this but many people do not. Many people have...

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: -----or in the next six months or so, that is my understanding. I can stand corrected on that. It is pretty close to being concluded. Phase 2 of the metering roll-out was always going to be more complicated because it involved flat complexes and so on, which is more complicated in terms of metering. My view is that we have a very significant number of water meters in the ground. They...

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am answering the questions put by two Deputies.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The question is whether I am going to instruct Irish Water to discontinue the installation of water meters and the answer to that question is "No". I expect there will be a pragmatic response from Irish Water where there is significant resistance. I think that in time many people, who do not have water meters now, will want them.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 17 together. The Deputy wants heat in this issue because he has built a whole political campaign around it. He wants to keep people and communities divided. They want to try to keep-----

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Deputies do not like to hear it because it is the truth. This is what they have built their political campaigns and careers around: division, anger and protest.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: When I answer questions honestly, I get threats, just as when we had questions on waste charges. When we were trying to resolve those issues, Deputy Paul Murphy's sole contribution was, "When you come to Tallaght, there will be protestors waiting for you."

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: That had nothing to do with the solutions. The Deputy does not offer solutions. He wants to make people angry so that they will be divided and create political opportunity for him. I am in the business of trying to provide solutions-----

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: -----and there are others in the House who are doing the same.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: I will finish because I have been interrupted.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: Water meters play an important role and will continue to play an important role in terms of water policy in Ireland regardless of the charging system which may or may not be voted for in the House in nine months' time. That is why Irish Water will finalise the phase 1 roll-out of the metering programme where possible.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is the same question, or rather statement, over and over again. It is important to say that people are not put in prison for peaceful protest.

Other Questions: Irish Water (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: I have answered the question repeatedly. My view is that meters have a value and that many households are using them effectively. Some communities referred to by Deputies have resisted the imposition of water meters and feel very strongly on the issue. I accept that and I do not pretend that is not the case. My point is that the roll-out of meters as envisaged by Irish Water is a...