Results 25,061-25,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Deputy McDonald referred to the figures for December. They are a stark reminder to the Government that a great deal of work remains to be done to solve the problem of homelessness. The family figures remained more or less the same. In fact, the number of dependents reduced by 44. That is understandable since in many cases children will stay with extended family during the Christmas...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Public Sector Pay (26 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Rates of pay for Retained Fire Service Personnel throughout all local authorities have a historic relationship for pay purposes with local authority craft workers’ rate of pay. The application of pay adjustments and related measures in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2015 and the Public Services Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (the Lansdowne...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Nitrates Action Programme Implementation (26 Jan 2017)

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. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: UN Conferences (26 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Neither I nor my Department were in a position to attend the 3rdUnited Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador last October. However, my Department inputted to the development of the EU Position Paper presented at the Conference for the purposes of the negotiations on the adoption of the New Urban Agenda as a universal framework of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The detailed arrangements in relation to the undertaking of an overall review of the planning system, as proposed in the Programme for a Partnership Government and aimed at reducing the uncertainty and length of planning processes, have not yet been finalised. However, the Deputy may wish to note that, in advance of such a review being undertaken, considerable progress has already been made...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Repair and Leasing Scheme (26 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: 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, and it is my intention that the scheme will be available...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (26 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: At the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on Wednesday, 18 January 2017, my Department indicated that details of all approved social housing projects are being updated and would be published in conjunction with the next Rebuilding Ireland quarterly implementation report, which is due in the coming weeks. The list will also be provided to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (26 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to the Question No. 234 of 24 January 2017, which sets out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (26 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 had been completed and 635 were being actively progressed. Further data on the operation of the scheme to date is collected and...

Order of Business (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: As I stated last week, we should be in a position to bring the heads of the building control Bill to Cabinet before the end of February and we will then have an opportunity to debate the detail of the Bill. It is important that we have consistent and accurate figures on completions so that we can meet the targets we have set out.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessnessfully recognises that the period of time that families spend in emergency hotel accommodation should be minimised. This is reflected in the commitment that, by mid-2017, hotels should only be used in limited circumstances as emergency accommodation for families. Full details and time frames in relation to the range of actions to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: In December 2013, my Department published proposed draft revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 WindEnergy 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 mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a wind...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (31 Jan 2017)

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 with 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: Homeless Persons Supports (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 316 together. It is recognised that transport costs can be an additional burden upon homeless families residing in hotel accommodation in lieu of an alternative form of emergency accommodation. Accordingly Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan on Housing and Homelessnessoutlines an initiative to provide access to free public transport for family travel and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Archival Material (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Question No. 249 of 29 November 2016 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) was rolled out across communities, both urban and rural, in April 2015 and will run until 31 December 2017. The aim of the SICAP is to reduce poverty, and promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration. SICAP is a key priority of Government and its vision is to improve...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23 January 2017, is primarily the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. However, as the proposal listed at Action 6 therein relates to a planning matter, its delivery falls to my Department. The proposed action – which was also incorporated in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 304 to 307, inclusive, together. 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 Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Yield (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 303 together. 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 to 2015. The Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Planning legislation does not place any restrictions on the number of times an application for planning permission may be sought for a particular type or class of development on a specific site.