Results 26,241-26,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Standards (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is important to point out that there is no direct correlation between the definition of overcrowding contained in Section 63 of the Housing Act 1966 and the recently published CSO Census 2016 Report, Profile 1 Housing in Ireland.   The CSO report has highlighted that 95,013 households (almost 10% of the population) are living in homes with more people than...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.  Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Calculations (16 May 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 Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Commercial rates form an important...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Reform (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Local government areas are specified in primary legislation. Section 12 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 states the State is divided into local government areas known counties and cities and cities and counties. The Local Government Act 2001, as amended, provides for three cities - Cork, Dublin and Galway - and for each of them to have a city council. If an additional city council...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Government Reform (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I acknowledge the pace of growth of Drogheda. There is a series of reasons for that growth, including its proximity to Dublin and to international connections through Dublin Airport and the fact that it has provided an affordable option for home buyers. It has also built a big economy in its own right and is a regional driver in its own right. However, I do not think the solution here is...

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

Simon Coveney: The requested information is not available in my Department. Local authorities operate on an accrual accounting basis and recognise income and expenditure as incurred relating to the accounting period concerned, regardless of the cash transactions.  The Annual Financial Statements (AFSs), therefore, do not show cash movements or cash on hand in relation to development contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Overall responsibility for the Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23 January 2017, rests with 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 - allowing for the change of use of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rural Resettlement Scheme (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government's Action Plan for Rural Development- Realising our Potential has a clear objective of working across Government Departments to deliver a co-ordinated group of strategies to ensure the success of vibrant rural communities across Ireland. I hope to bring forward policy proposals under the Action Plan that will cover a broad range of issues in housing,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (17 May 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 was an important early action for completion in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The nationwide roll out of the HAP scheme was completed with its introduction, on 1 March 2017, to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: There has been no expenditure by my Department, including Met Éireann, on renting car park spaces in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017. My Department encourages the use of public transport by its staff through the operation of a Travel Pass Scheme under which they purchase an annual bus or rail pass in a tax efficient manner approved by the Revenue...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Departmental Agencies Expenditure (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is as follows: Agency Email address An Bord Pleanála...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: One of the key functions of housing authorities is to provide or manage the provision of social housing support in a way that counteracts undue segregation between persons of different social backgrounds and ensures the provision of an appropriate mix of dwelling types and tenure classes. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the...

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

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Question Number 562 of 16 September 2016. The position is unchanged. If an additional city council were to be established, this would have significant implications for the county in which the area concerned is situated, particularly loss of functions of the relevant county council. Provision for this and in relation to other consequential matters would have to be...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 to 157, inclusive, together. Section 28(2) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 provides for a second extension of the duration of planning permissions relating to developments of 20 or more houses in specified circumstances.  An amendment to the section 28(2) provisions was tabled by me at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Data (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The details requested in relation to the number of persons that are employed under the aegis of my Department through agencies are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is as follows: Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (17 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: To date in 2017 my Department has not paid external agencies or consultants for any work in relation to investigations undertaken in human resources or industrial relations including hiring or interviewing of staff.

Residential Tenancies (Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputies Bríd Smith, Boyd Barrett and Gino Kenny for bringing forward the Bill and providing us with another opportunity to discuss the development of the rental sector, which is an absolute priority for me and for the Government. As Deputies will be aware, I have tabled an amendment to the motion. Unfortunately, I will be unable to support the legislation as is. While I...

Residential Tenancies (Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following:“Dáil Éireann, while acknowledging the relevance of the Residential Tenancies (Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) (Amendment) Bill 2016 in the context of the current market conditions in the residential rental sector, declines to give the Bill a second reading...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the Press Release from the European Court of Justice referred to in the Question and the Judgment to which it relates. The present position in this matter is set out in the reply to Questions Nos. 128 and 130 of 11 May 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Grants (18 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grant scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to...