Results 22,941-22,960 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: We agreed terms of reference for the commission when we put together, with Fianna Fáil, a confidence and supply agreement on the commission. To be fair, the idea that we will now start debating and changing the terms of reference is not a reasonable request. We made the purpose of the commission clear. A group of people with considerable knowledge of issues related to water, including...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: To be fair, I never said I would change or amend the terms of reference. Once they were agreed between two party leaders, they would not be undone. I would not like to give an impression that I ever said it would be otherwise because I did not do so. I have been up-front about the commission. I have seen some commentary on some websites and on social media about some of the members of the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I will answer it in a roundabout way. I have spoken to Mr. O'Toole about the criticism that has come his way during the past 24 hours in particular. He is reflecting on it and has asked for some time and space to make a personal statement in response to it. I would like to give him that courtesy.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 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. In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I recently announced the Government’s approval to the establishment of a Local Infrastructure Fund of €200 million to relieve critical infrastructural blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites and to improve the economic viability of new housing projects in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand for housing. The Fund will be composed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal Charges (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 120 together. The Government secured an agreement with all major waste collection companies to freeze charges, so that customers pay no more than they are currently paying for waste collection over the next 12 months for the same level of service. My Department has met representatives of the waste industry this week, at which a range of issues...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Constituency Boundaries (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Census 2016 was taken on 24 April 2016 and the Central Statistics Office expects to publish the preliminary results this month. Section 5 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides for the establishment, by me as Minister, of a Constituency Commission upon the publication of those results. The function of the Constituency Commission is to make a report on the constituencies for the election of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, following the sanction for staff by my Department, their recruitment and assignment is a matter for each individual Chief Executive.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Recycling Policy (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is a serious problem with waste tyres in Ireland. In discussions prior to the adoption of the 2007 Tyre Regulations, it was made clear that this was the last opportunity for the tyre industry to embrace environmental compliance and take responsibility for the waste it produces. If the required improvement did not happen, it was made clear to the tyre industry that the system would be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Projects (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The organisation in question submitted an application to Pobal under the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector. In total 148 applications were received and assessed by Pobal on behalf of my Department with 70 organisations to receive funding. The quality of applications was very high, leading to a highly competitive assessment process. I approved...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Funding (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The allocation for regeneration projects for 2016 is €50m, as stated in the reply to Question Number 14 of 29 June 2016. Individual regeneration projects are implemented on a multi-annual basis and, accordingly, they receive funding that is spread over the years of their implementation. The €50m allocated for regeneration projects in 2016 is in relation to implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Funding (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The approved construction budget, which is subject to review, for phase 1 of the Dolphin House regeneration project is currently €19.1m. This is to cover the construction of 37 new units and the refurbishment of 67 units (100 units in total) and the provision of lift blocks. Other community-related costs are considered as required, such as the provision of CCTV facilities to help...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Details in relation to the membership of State Boards under the aegis of my Department are available on the Department’s website at the following link:. In the case of certain appointments to State Boards, statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Minister or the Government, as...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together. The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire...

Topical Issue Debate: Foreshore Licence Applications (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I was in Galway on Friday, where this issue was raised with me. In March 2006, the Marine Institute was granted a foreshore lease for a period of ten years for the purpose of developing and operating a national quarter-scale test facility in Galway Bay, which I went out to see by boat, for the testing of wave energy devices in accordance with plans and drawings submitted at that time. That...

Topical Issue Debate: Foreshore Licence Applications (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: 8 o’clock It is important to say to the Deputy that I am not the applicant. An applicant for a foreshore licence has the responsibility to ensure that proper public consultation takes place and that if meetings are appropriate, they also take place. I am the person who has to make a decision on the application so I cannot become involved in determining what is and is not...

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputies for affording us the opportunity to discuss the report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness and, perhaps more importantly, to debate in this House how we can all work towards addressing the many issues regarding homelessness. I will also use the opportunity to set out the Government's priorities and intentions for the forthcoming action plan on housing. I...

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: That is not the off balance sheet model.

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is not.

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Who is stigmatising? Who said that? Deputy Coppinger is the only person raising that language.