Results 25,201-25,220 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I will finish one or two points if I can.

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: On the vouching side, I hope that everybody recognises that we live in a very different world now to 20 years ago. The public expect a very different level of accountability and transparency for how public money is spent.We want to make that as easy as possible within councils, in terms of how it functions, and I hope that people work with us on that. It would, of course, be simpler to have...

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Is that right?

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: That is already under way.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: A full audit of all State-owned land is being done.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: For the purposes of clarity, the figure is not 0.5 but 0.05 hectares.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: There is a big difference.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: May I come in now, as otherwise I will sum up without having made an initial contribution? I am in the hands of the Chair.

Seanad: Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I thank the House for affording me the opportunity to speak on the Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017, proposed by a number of Senators, led by Senator Grace O'Sullivan. While the Bill is relatively short, it proposes to amend three existing Acts, namely, the Derelict Sites Act 1990, the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as recently amended by the Planning and Development (Housing) and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: In January 2015, a Ministerial Direction was put in place which required the Dublin Region housing authorities to allocate at least 50% of tenancies under their control to homeless and other vulnerable households, while the authorities in counties Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford were required to allocate at least 30%. The Direction was subsequently renewed on two occasions, with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including the provision of accommodation, rests with housing authorities. As I am satisfied that housing authorities are making every effort to make the most suitable accommodation available to homeless households seeking emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board Staff (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. The Regulations specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Data (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Information on the funding provided to each local authority under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability from 2008 to 2016 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: . In 2016, Exchequer funding of €45m was made available to local authorities for these grants. I expect to be in a position to increase that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Funding is provided to local authorities under my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment programme, to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments. In addition, my Department also provides funding to local authorities to carry out improvement works to their existing social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Funding is provided to local authorities under my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment programme, to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments. In addition, my Department also provides funding to local authorities to carry out improvement works to their existing social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Public Health and Safety (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Section 239 (2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 places a statutory responsibility on organisers of funfairs and owners of fairground equipment to take such care as is reasonable to ensure that persons on land in connection with a funfair do not suffer injury or damage by reason of any danger arising out of the funfair or associated activities. Section 239 (4) of the Planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Public Relations Contracts Data (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The information requested in relation to my Department and in relation to the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), the Secretariat services for which are provided by my Department, are being compiled to the extent to which they can reasonably be collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders. The details requested in relation to bodies under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Public Health and Safety (9 Feb 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Public Health and Safety (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Section 239 (2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 places a statutory responsibility on organisers of funfairs and owners of fairground equipment to take such care as is reasonable to ensure that persons on land in connection with a funfair do not suffer injury or damage by reason of any danger arising out of the funfair or associated activities. Section 239 (4) of the Planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Calculations (14 Feb 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 Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Commercial rates form an important...