Results 24,841-24,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 458 and 522 together. There are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The current standard variable interest rate charged to local authority borrowers, applicable since 1 July 2016, is 2.3% which is circa 1.5% below the average variable mortgage rate charged by commercial lenders, delivering interest savings of approximately €1,500 per annum on a mortgage of €100,000. The rate charged by local authorities is arrived at taking into account...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department, together with the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and local authorities, has considered the affordability issues facing some borrowers who purchased properties under the Shared Ownership (SO) schemes and devised a more affordable long-term path towards full home ownership. A range of measures have already been taken to reduce the monthly repayments of these...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Children's Rights (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the Ninth Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection submitted to the Oireachtas on November 18th 2016. In relation to housing, the Special Rapporteur refers to the work of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which reviewed Ireland's compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights during 2015. In their report,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (17 Jan 2017)

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 element...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (17 Jan 2017)

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 Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Rates income data are published by local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant housing authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. In order to qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing list, an applicant must be assessed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: This is a case of an unauthorised development which is the subject of court proceedings. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Up to 31 December 2016, a total of 3,575 cases have been submitted under the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme, which was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions. Of these, 2,723 were ineligible or terminated during the process, 217 have been completed with 635 being actively progressed. The reasons why a case has not progressed are varied and can depend on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Presidential Elections (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Convention on the Constitution, in its Fifth Report, recommended that voting rights be extended in presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State. The Government considered the Convention report in February 2015 and decided that it would be necessary to analyse the full range of legal, practical and policy issues arising before any decision could be made on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Part 8 of the Local Government Act 2001 has not been commenced and was repealed by the Local Government Reform Act 2014. The legislation governing local authority boundary alterations is set out in Part V of the Local Government Act 1991.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is not available in my Department. Electoral law provides that it is a matter for the returning officer in the relevant constituency to give public notice of his or her decision to take the poll on an island in advance of the polling day appointed by the Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is not clear what specific projects the Deputy is referring to in the Question. However, in general, under my Department's Social Housing Capital Investment and Social Housing Current Expenditure Programmes, funding is provided to local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Repair and Leasing Scheme (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471, 496 and 524 together. The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant properties across Ireland. The scheme was launched in Waterford and Carlow in early October 2016, on a pilot basis,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Under the provisions of section 25 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986, the District Court may act on a complaint by any person where a nuisance has been created by excessive barking by a dog. A copy of the form used for complaints to the Courts regarding barking is available from local authorities. The Court may make an order, requiring the occupier of the premises in which the dog is kept to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department has no function in relation to requesting a report of audits of the type described by the Deputy and which furthermore are not specifically required by the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). As the Deputy will be aware, the provisions of the Act, both in relation to the preparation of statutory development plans and local area plans, oblige...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I understand the Deputy is referring to a recent determination by An Bord Pleanála in relation to a particular case (reference number RL3490) that the exclusive use of a residential apartment for short-term holiday lettings is considered to be development under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and is not exempted development. The effect of the Board's determination is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Irish Water (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Contracts entered into by Irish Water are a matter for the utility and one in which I have no function. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: On 13 December 2016, the Government approved the publication of a Strategy for the Rental Sector, which delivers on a commitment made under Rebuilding Ireland. The strategy is structured around 4 key areas: security, standards, supply and services. The overarching objective of the strategy is to increase security and supply and support the development of a stable, strong and viable rental...