Results 24,381-24,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is wrong in that.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Nitrates Usage (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014, as amended, give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 182 together. Gross motor tax receipts from goods vehicles for 2012 through to 2015 and to the end of November 2016 are shown in the following table: Year Gross receipts (€) 2012 146.3m 2013 163.8m 2014 176.6m 2015 173.2m 2016 (to 30 November) 128.0m The motor tax rates for goods vehicles announced in Budget 2016 took effect...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Gross motor tax receipts from private vehicles for 2012 through to 2015 and to the end of November 2016 are shown in the following table: Year Gross receipts (€) 2012 873.2m 2013 928.8m 2014 952.6m 2015 921.6m 2016 (to 30 November) 827.5m

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commission on Domestic Public Water Services (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Expert Commission was made up of national and international experts whose experience covered areas such as environmental matters, law, economics, the customer perspective, the water sector and the regulatory system. The members of the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services were: - Mr Kevin Duffy, former Chairman of the Labour Court; - Dr Xavier Leflaive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The amalgamation works in senior citizens complexes, known as the 2 into 1 programme, has continued over recent years and is regarded as very successful. It is my intention to continue funding such works in 2017, subject to budgetary provision in the Revised Estimates Volume, due for publication later this month. I can advise the Deputy that proposals from Dublin City Council in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 gives legislative recognition to rental accommodation availability agreements as a form of social housing support. Consequently, since 1 April 2011, RAS tenants are now considered to be in receipt of social housing support and should not generally remain on housing waiting lists for new applicants for social housing. In recognition that RAS...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: To ensure effective targeting of limited resources, local authority house purchase loan finance continues to be available to first time buyers only. The Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 are kept under ongoing review. There are no plans, at this time, to alter the Regulations in this regard. The option currently available for non-first time buyers is to seek home loan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Remuneration (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In early 2010, my Department sought to standardise arrangements for the Head of Health and Safety post across the local government sector. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: International Conventions (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: As with all legislation, my Department has worked in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General in the preparation and drafting of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016. In this regard, my Department has obtained legal advice from the Attorney General to that effect that the proposed arrangements relating to the strategic housing development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Remuneration (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 (FEMPI) introduced the pension related deduction (PRD) for public servants. Local authorities deduct PRD from the salaries of their employees and to date have retained the amounts collected as part of their income, using this income to help fund the services they provide. This approach was adopted by agreement in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: As outlined in the reply to Question No. 77 of 17 November 2016, the Urban Renewal Working Group has been established to identify a series of specific actions as early as possible, aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres, many of which have been adversely impacted by our recent economic difficulties. It is intended that the new measures will complement the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. Details of compensation amounts and insurance claims paid by local authorities are matters for individual local authorities. The information requested is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Data (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 195 and 198 together. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential 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 operate a national tenancy registration...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Provision was made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 for a new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses. Following the necessary preparatory work the new Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Electoral Commission Administration (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The review referred to is one of 4 boundary reviews which were initiated together. The report of the Athlone Boundary Committee was submitted on 10 November and subsequently published. The chairpersons of the committees which are reviewing the boundaries at Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford have indicated that these reports will be submitted in the coming weeks. I will be considering all the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: National Spatial Strategy (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The current National Spatial Strategy (NSS) was published in 2002 and was Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework, setting an overarching planning framework. The Strategy remains in force and as a result of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, its statutory role and influence has been strengthened by new requirements for local authority and regional plans...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Services Expenditure (6 Dec 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services Funding (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: ‘My Open Library’ is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the national public library strategy 2013-20 17 and is part of a strategy to address customer demand. It 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 for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Local authorities are required by legislation 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 to 2015. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property determined by the Valuation Office to obtain...