Results 24,361-24,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am trying to give Members as much detail as I can at this point because I know we will have to try to move through the Stages fairly quickly to try to get this done before the end of the year. That is the idea. I would not usually go into this level of detail on Second Stage.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Part 4, which covers section 40, gives effect to action 4.9 of Rebuilding lreland to amend the Housing Finance Agency Acts to enable the Housing Finance Agency to provide low-cost finance to higher education institutes for the purpose of providing student accommodation. In addition, as a new initiative identified in Rebuilding Ireland, the Housing Agency is to be provided with capital...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: That was before we made amendments in the Seanad relating to some of those concerns.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: We are doing that too. These things are not exclusive.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Absolutely. There was no offence taken.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Exemptions in motor tax are provided for in section 1 of the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952 and in regulations made under section 92 of the Finance Act 1989. Section 1(4)(f) of the 1952 Act (as inserted by section 75(2)(b) of the Finance Act 1991) provides for an exemption for vehicles adapted and used for invalids where the vehicle is less than 400 kilograms in unladen...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Income from motor tax income accrues to the Local Government Fund. With effect from 1 January 2008, responsibility for local and regional roads was transferred to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTaS). An arrangement between my Department and DTTaS provides that funding in respect of roads and sustainable transport infrastructure is channelled from the Local Government Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013. The primary purpose of the Act is to replace the system whereby a vehicle was declared off the road retrospectively with a system under which the vehicle must be declared off the road in advance. The Act provides that a vehicle can be declared off the road for a minimum period of three months and a maximum period of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Ireland responded to Reasoned Opinion 2013/2056 on 28 November 2016 based on material prepared by my Department. The Reasoned Opinion outlines alleged failures in relation to approximately 40 specified agglomerations with regard to urban waste water treatment and collection. The response fully addresses the issues raised by the Commission, in terms of overall progress in the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly was established with effect from 1 January 2015, along with two other regional assemblies, under the Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014. Article 57 (11) of the Order provides that the unrecouped expenses of a regional assembly incurred in accordance with its adopted budget shall be refunded to the assembly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Funding is available to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to deliver new social housing through the acquisition of houses as well as through new build projects. The funding schemes that support AHBs in this regard include the Capital Advance Leasing Facility scheme, the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme and the Capital Assistance Scheme. Some €1 billion in funding is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: While the circumstances of each case may vary depending on the terms of the mortgage or charge under which a receiver is appointed, the appointment of a receiver does not affect the statutory or contractual rights of tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act. However, the appointment of a receiver to a dwelling can cause confusion and distress to tenants and in circumstances where a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Residential Tenancies (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended by the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (1 Dec 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 pursuant to the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.  Commercial rates form an important...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The overall cost to date of the consultation, communication and engagement strategy associated with Rebuilding Ireland is approximately €95,700 (incl. VAT). The main aim of the consultation, communication and engagement strategy is to ensure that the momentum for implementation is maintained throughout the life of the Plan. A key part of the successful implementation of Rebuilding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with section 2 of the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended), the power to enter into a lease in respect of State-owned foreshore rests solely with the appropriate Minister as defined in law. Section 13A(2)(c) of the Foreshore Act 1933 empowers the Minister to rely on the advice of officials, consultants, experts or other advisors in making a determination on foreshore applications...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tribunals of Inquiry Expenditure (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal) was established by Order of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to inquire into and report on various planning matters, set out in resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 7 and 8 October, 1997 respectively. The final report of the Tribunal was published in...

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Government will support the Bill. I understand the reasons Deputy Ó Cuív has introduced it and I am aware that he spends much time on islands off the west coast. I spend as much time as I can on islands off the south coast. The purpose of the legislation is to recognise that time has moved on in terms of access to islands. While acknowledging that people living on islands...

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is no dispute from Government in relation to it.

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: We just need to ensure we guard against some of the practical consequences of it. While the Deputy can rest assured that we will help him to get this Bill through the various Stages and enacted, some targeted amendments will be required to ensure it functions properly.