Results 23,921-23,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services Data (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision and management of library services is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. This includes expenditure on operating, maintenance and utility costs. My Department has no direct role in these matters.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In 2006, the then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources was responsible for the regulation of the foreshore under the 1933 Foreshore Act. The application for the original 10 year lease was processed by that Department. Following a search of the foreshore records, my Department has not been able to locate the environmental assessment reports requested in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently awaiting comments from the applicant in respect of the 555 public submissions received by my Department during the public consultation period before undertaking any such assessment. The next stage in the process is that the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), an ad hocmulti-disciplinary advisory body, will undertake a technical evaluation of the application...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is not available in my Department. Information on the number of local authority dwellings sold under tenant purchase schemes is available on my Department’s website at: .

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is a clear priority of the Government to maximise delivery of social housing to cater for the greatest level of need, while also achieving value for money. The provision of social housing is carried out by local authorities and Approved Housing bodies (AHBs) through a range of delivery methods, including construction, acquisition, leasing and other approaches, which allow local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (8 Nov 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 Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997, each Department or Office must prepare and submit a Statement of Strategy to their Minister within six months of the appointment of a new Minister. My Department has prepared a new draft Statement of Strategy which I expect will be published later this month, subject to my approval. The draft strategy statement has been drawn up...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2016 and the associated National Implementation Framework are joint publications by my Department and the Department of Health, and set out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities. They were developed as part of a coherent framework in conjunction with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department has already provided €2.3 million through the Capital Assistance Scheme to Monaghan County Council for the construction of 18 units of accommodation by an approved housing body in County Monaghan. This is the first phase of the scheme concerned and is made up of 10 two bed units and an 8 unit group home. I understand that this phase is largely complete and 10 of the 18...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Projects (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The ‘My Open Library’ service is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the national public library strategy 2013-2017. It forms part of the overall strategy to address customer demand and grants members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at the hours that suit them best. The initial ‘My Open Library’ pilot was introduced in three branches,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Provisions for the management and storage of organic fertiliser are contained in water protection and waste management legislation. Ireland's third National Nitrates Action Programme is given legal effect by the consolidated European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014. The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (8 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services 2016, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in December 2015, provided for gross capital expenditure of €545 million in respect of my Department in 2016. Following the transfer of functions from my Department in 2016 to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (9 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: That is not much.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (9 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Hear, hear.

Topical Issue Debate: Rent Controls (9 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As she knows, there are acute pressures in the rental market. These pressures are being driven by a number of factors, including rising demand, a lack of supply and the high costs that some indebted landlords face in servicing their loans. These stresses are confirmed by the latest data from the Daft.ierental report. The report shows that rent...

Topical Issue Debate: Rent Controls (9 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy knows me pretty well by now. I can be accused of much, but I do not wash my hands of problems. I have responsibility for the housing market, people who are homeless and implementing an ambitious housing and homelessness strategy for the Government. A piece of the jigsaw that is not fully filled in yet is a rental strategy, which we have committed to having in place before the...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Uisce faoi Úinéireacht Phoiblí) (Uimh. 2) 2016: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to participate in this evening's debate, which provides another useful opportunity to discuss issues concerning the public water system and its importance to citizens, communities, our economy and the environment. The debate comes at a critical time in our collective deliberations on the future of domestic water charges and how we fund domestic water services into the future....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (9 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 111, inclusive, together. In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 WindEnergy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed: - the setting of a more stringent day- and night-time noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax (9 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is set out in the following table. The reply to Question No 611 of 16 September 2016 reflects the position at 31 December 2015, but as the numbers in the engine capacity fleet are decreasing month on month, an additional column with the numbers taxed as at 30 September 2016 is also included. Engine Capacity No. of vehicles at 31 December 2015 No. of vehicles at...