Results 24,141-24,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The Social Housing Strategy 2020provided for an investment with a capital value of €300 million in social housing through the public private partnership or PPP model. In total, the programme is expected to deliver 1,500 social housing units. The delivery of social housing through PPP is part of the plan to accelerate the supply of social housing, which is the second pillar of the...

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

Simon Coveney: All local authorities have active programmes of new social housing construction through standard construction approaches. This includes those authorities who are also undertaking rapid build social housing programmes. Since the launch of the Social Housing Strategy, and continuing with the increased targets announced under Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (22 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: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) was the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. LCDP was implemented by Local Development Companies until 31 March 2015 when it was replaced by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), which was rolled out across communities following a procurement process. My...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department has no record of any injury warrant applications under the Superannuation Acts since 1995.

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

Simon Coveney: My Department does not hold information on the allocation of, or refusal of offers of, social housing supports to households on the waiting list. The allocation of social housing support is a matter for each housing authority in accordance with its allocation scheme made under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and, as Minister, I am precluded by law from intervening in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came in to operation on 1 January 2016 and offers eligible local authority tenants the opportunity to buy their homes. To be eligible for the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme, tenants of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per...

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

Simon Coveney: The provision of public library services is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. This includes the procurement of books and other library related services. My Department has no direct role in these matters. I understand that the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is currently working with the Educational...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department has not established a Brexit sub Committee but a Brexit coordinator has been appointed to manage any impacts of Brexit on the business of the Department and to liaise with the Departments of An Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade. My Department is also represented on the Inter-Departmental Group on EU-UK Affairs. Ireland's preparations for Brexit are being strongly...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department does not own any vacant sites, property or land in the functional area of Dublin City Council. The details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The...

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

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for the provision, funding and oversight of services to support victims of domestic violence, including refuges, rests with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under the aegis of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The official monthly homeless data published by my Department is provided by housing authorities via the Pathway Accommodation & Support System...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (22 Nov 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 Acts 2001-2015. The Commissioner of Valuation comes under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The principle of local authorities...

Local Government (Mayor and Regional Authority of Dublin) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:the Bill be deemed to be read a Second Time on 30 June 2017 to allow for consideration of the Bill in the context of implementation of the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government to consider directly elected mayors in cities as part of wider potential local government reform measures and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 sets out the particulars that must be provided on a motor tax disc; these include the tax class of the vehicle. There are some 30,000 vehicles in the State that are exempt from motor tax. As well as vehicles exempted under the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services Provision (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 91 and 93 together. ‘My Open Library’ is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the national public library strategy 2013-2017 which allows library members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at times that suit them. It provides additional opening hours from 8am to 10pm, seven days-per-week, ensuring access to library services...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: A rigorous appraisal of the State agencies under the aegis of my Department was carried out as part of the reform of State agencies under the Public Service Reform Plan 2011-2013. On foot of the appraisal, the number of agencies was reduced. This rationalisation included the dissolution of the Library Council and the transfer of its functions and staff to the new Library Development Unit in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services Staff (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In 2015 a working group was set up to revise the qualifications for professional and non-professional public library grades. The working group consisted of members of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, County Librarians (also members of the Library Association of Ireland), and senior human resources staff from various local authorities as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Legislative Reviews (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In late 2015, my Department agreed to begin a process of review of the current Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines, with meetings to review the Guidelines commencing last January. The work undertaken to date has been to produce a first draft revision, which is currently under consideration in my Department. I intend to extend the consultation process on the guidelines shortly at which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Administration (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I issued a ‘call for proposals’ under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) in June 2016 and it remains open for applications by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) up to end-November 2016. Proposals should be made by AHBs directly to the local authorities for the areas concerned. I expect to confirm the position in early 2017 regarding the acceptance of further CAS proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 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 €200 million Fund will be composed of an Exchequer allocation of €150...