Results 24,121-24,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The lack of a sufficient supply of homes to meet demand has led to the current pressures in the housing market, making it difficult for first-time and other buyers to access housing at affordable levels. The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness outlines the Government’s commitment to develop a fully functioning housing market that meets the housing needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: 'My Open Library' is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the national public library strategy 2013-2017 and is part of a strategy to address customer demand. To this end, 'My Open Library' allows library members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at times that suit them. It provides additional opening hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days-per-week, ensuring access to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: To support the implementation of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, I have secured €5.35 billion in exchequer investment to deliver 47,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period 2016 to 2021. This €5.35 billion investment comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The data requested are currently being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Eligibility (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is 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 €200m Fund will be composed of an Exchequer allocation of €150 million,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. The role of the Cork expert advisory group is to review the recommendations of the Cork Local Government Committee report. The group is tasked with examining both the majority and minority reports and underlying material and has a mandate to identify and examine a wider range of options for Cork than might have been considered...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness is being advanced across a number of departments and agencies, under the oversight of the Cabinet Committee on Housing, chaired by An Taoiseach, and there is a clear commitment to reporting progress, particularly through quarterly progress reports. The first quarterly progress report, which is in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Retirement benefits payable to staff of agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter primarily for the agencies themselves, under their approved superannuation schemes. On the basis that "top-ups" refers to superannuation payments beyond contractual entitlements, no such payments were approved by my Department in the period in question.

Local Government Reform (Amendment) (Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Lahart in particular, who had the courtesy to contact me before introducing the legislation to the Dáil. He has already engaged in a very genuine way in trying to ensure this actually happens, rather than simply having a political debate on it. To be fair, Deputy Ryan is in the same class. From my perspective, we will do something significant in this area. I am...

Local Government Reform (Amendment) (Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Make sure there is no general election in the meantime.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The operation of the motor tax system is kept under regular review. Under existing arrangements, motor tax is payable in person or by post through motor tax offices in twenty six local authorities. It is also payable online at any time, with the level of online usage increasing from 42% of all motor tax transactions in 2010 to just under 70% to date in 2016. I am aware that An Post is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240, 241 and 243 together. In December 2013, my Department published proposed draft revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy 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 developments, - a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rural Resettlement Scheme (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Rural Resettlement Ireland were advised on receipt of their grant in 2012 that, given resource constraints, it was unlikely my Department would be in a position to provide funding to them under Grant in Aid in 2013 or beyond. That position remains unchanged. I refer to the reply to Question No. 149 of 16 November 2016 which sets out the position more generally, including in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: At present, the full HAP scheme is only available to all qualifying households in one of the four Dublin local authorities, South Dublin County Council. The full roll-out of the scheme will be completed by 1 March 2017, with the introduction of HAP to the administrative areas of Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal County Councils. A multi-agency HAP Implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 248 together. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority are responsible for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that Dublin City Council is funding the pyrite remediation works at this location from its own resources. I also understand that a number of tenants have raised concerns with Dublin City Council in relation to the works and the Council has agreed to meet with each of its tenants to discuss their issues.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Elections (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides for the division of each county, city or city and county into local electoral areas. As set out in the reply to Question No. 183 of 2 November 2016, the most recent review of local electoral areas was carried out from November 2012 to May 2013 by a Local Electoral Area Boundary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Action 4.6 of Rebuilding Irelandprovides for the introduction of a new pilot affordable rental scheme to enhance the capacity of the private rented sector to provide quality and affordable accommodation for households currently paying a disproportionate amount of disposable income on rent. The objective of the scheme is to provide long-term affordable residential accommodation for low to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the phased and sequential development of the overall Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) is set out in the Planning Scheme approved by An Bord Pleanála. Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, will apply to each individual application or applications for permission for housing in the Cherrywood SDZ by a variety of landowners...