Results 25,401-25,420 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Other Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Standards (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: We will look at any sensible suggestions people have and we will test them. If they make sense, we will try to incorporate them into the housing plan. That is why we are looking at affordable rental models in Dublin at the moment, and we will do it in other parts of the country as well if it makes sense. We have to do it case by case and it is not a question of opening up a new category...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard household means policy. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy gives the example of an apprentice whose partner is on social welfare. If they are not qualifying, I would like to see the detail of that. I am not saying I do not believe the Deputy. Of course, I believe him but that does not seem to be the target market we are looking to try to support here. People on low incomes who are making the effort to get out and work need to be...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are zones and bands in different areas.

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I will take a look at it and come back to the Deputy.

Other Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I would like to read the following positive response into the record. I recognise 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, the Rebuilding Ireland action plan on housing and Homelessness outlined an initiative to provide access to free public transport for...

Other Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am not.

Other Questions: Homeless Persons Supports (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy strikes me as a pragmatist in terms of trying to put solutions in place. There are 91,000 people on housing lists across the country. We cannot simply build 91,000 social houses. We are building as many social houses as we can build at a pace that is increasing significantly relative to recent years. A total of 8,500 social houses at various different stages to be constructed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The 2016 Summary of Social Housing Assessments recorded 91,600 households as being qualified for social housing support as at 21 September 2016, an increase of 1,728 households or 1.9% over the 89,872 total recorded by the previous summary in 2013. Within this overall figure, both Cork housing authorities recorded a significant decrease in their figures, with a reduction of 2,000 in the City...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy may be aware, I recently published the Review of the Mortgage to Rent Scheme. The Review represents the completion of an early action in the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. It involved broad consultation, including with the Department of Finance, on the operation of the current scheme, which was originally developed in 2011. Arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 16 together. As pointed out in response to earlier Questions, Rebuilding Ireland is fundamentally based on blended delivery of social housing and harnessing the highest quality social housing possible given the capacity of local authorities, the private market and the financial resources available to Government. A range of delivery mechanisms...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is fully recognised that the period of time that homeless families spend in hotel accommodation should be minimised. This is reflected in the commitment in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness that by mid-2017, hotels should only be used in exceptional circumstances as emergency accommodation for families. It is intended that the long-term housing needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The breakdown of the delivery for social housing in 2016 , including the number of built units, was set out in the Second Quarterly Progress Report under the Rebuilding IrelandAction Plan on Housing and Homelessness. At 640, the number of built social housing units indicated for 2016 is provisional , while final statistics are gathered from local authorities, for publication by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including rapid build homes. At the end of 2016, a total of 350 rapid build homes were advancing through various stages of delivery, including construction, with 22 rapid build homes being delivered and occupied in 2016. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: National Planning Framework (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 73 together. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently leading the preparation of the National Planning Framework, Our Plan - Ireland 2040 , although responsibility for the ultimate implementation of the Framework will rest with a range of stakeholders such as relevant Government Departments, including those referred to, other...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: On Monday last, I published a Status Report for Social Housing Construction Projects, which lists all approved projects, including those delivered in 2016 and those at various stages of advancement through planning, design and construction. This report, which includes 10 projects for the Galway City Council area, can be accessed at the following link: . In addition to the Galway City Council...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Social housing need, is in the first instance, a local issue and local authorities must respond to the nature and extent of that local need by devising and implementing appropriate targeted proposals that best fit the specific needs in their areas. For that purpose,my Department has put in place a wide range of programmes that are available to all local authorities to generate increased...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (23 Feb 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. Indeed, 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: Private Rented Accommodation Price Controls (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 34, 47 and 56 together. The most effective way to reduce and stabilise rents in the long term, and benefit the entire sector, is to increase supply and accelerate delivery of housing for the private and social rented sectors. Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, aims to increase and accelerate housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a key Government priority and the accelerated roll-out of the scheme on a national basis is an important early action for completion in the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. At this time, HAP is available to all households who qualify for social housing support in 28 local authority areas,...