Results 2,761-2,780 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board (22 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector and the Act provides that landlords in the sector must apply to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to register the tenancy of a dwelling within one month of the commencement of the tenancy. The published register lists the addresses of all tenancies...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tribunals of Inquiry Expenditure (22 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal) was established in October 1997 and published its Final Report in March 2012. The work of the Tribunal at present is largely focused on the settlement of the remainder of third-party and court costs incurred during the work of the Tribunal. It is anticipated that the day-to-day operations of the Tribunal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (22 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 200 together. Under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants are available to assist households with specific needs to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Services (22 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The operation of local authority home improvement/reconstruction loans is a matter for each local authority. Local authority loans are available to owner-occupiers towards the cost of necessary works to improve, repair, extend or reconstruct their existing houses. The loan criteria and related information is available on local authority websites and the Citizen’s Information website:...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Standards (22 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Minimum standards for rented accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 as amended, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992.All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Details of the number of inspections carried out by each local authority in 2010...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Projects (22 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The data requested are not available within my Department. I understand that relevant data of this nature is compiled and published online by the Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (www.seai.ie), which is under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Expenditure (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. The Pyrite Resolution Board commenced accepting applications from eligible homeowners for inclusion in the pyrite remediation scheme on 26 February 2014. As matters stand , the Board has received in the order of 627 completed applications of which some 597 have a Building Condition Assessment with a damage condition rating of 2. A...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Regulation (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The regulation of gas and electricity heating installers is undertaken by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I am not aware of any plans for the establishment of a state regulatory body for the installation of other fuels along the lines suggested. However, I understand that industry stakeholders are developing both a training and registration scheme for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that the membership of the Board of An Bord Pleanála shall comprise a Chairperson and up to 9 ordinary members. The processes for the appointment of the Chair person and the ordinary Board Member s are set out under sections 105–107 of the Act and associated regulations. In relation to the position of Chairperson, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Standards (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord/tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector and the Act provides that landlords must apply to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to register the tenancy of a dwelling within one month of the commencement of the tenancy. The published register lists the addresses of all tenancies registered with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Pyrite Panel, convened in September 2011, undertook a desktop study, in conjunction with stakeholder consultation, to establish facts in relation to the potential exposure to pyrite problems. The information was gathered from a number of sources , including local authorities, structural guarantee providers, representatives of homeowners, private builders, construction professionals and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Legislative Programme (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: On 20 June 2013, my Department issued Circular Letter PL 11/2013 to planning authorities in relation to the provision of adequate security provided under section 34(g) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, for the satisfactory completion of residential developments. The Circular advised on updated practice to be implemented in relation to bonds and securities for housing and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Minister of State for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Paudie Coffey) The statistical information sought is not available in my Department. A target inspection rate of 12-15% of all buildings covered by valid commencement notices is in place within all local building control authorities. Performance against this target is reported by the Local Government Management...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Insurance Industry Regulation (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: HomeBond is a private limited company providing structural guarantees for new houses and, since November 2008, the HomeBond Insurance scheme is underwritten by Allianz Insurance. As is the case for any private company, its operations are a matter for its management and Board of Directors. My Department understands that HomeBond Insurance Services Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: General responsibility for the promotion of energy efficiency rests with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who has published Ireland's Second National Energy Efficiency Plan. The plan details the broad range of measures in place or being planned by a range of departments and agencies with a view to improving energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In December 2013, my Department published proposed "draft" revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed: - The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments, - A mandatory minimum setback of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly and I thank the Senator for raising the issue. Proposals for wind energy 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 planning authority with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I note the Senator's comments but I remind him that the current guidelines were adopted as recently as 2006. The Government recognises that they need to be reviewed and that is what we are doing. We have consulted widely with all stakeholders in this regard. We have received 7,500 submissions and, therefore, it is wrong to state the Government is making no effort. We are making every...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Yield (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Deputy Adams got his figures wrong.

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Deputy Clare Daly for raising this important issue. The pyrite remediation scheme is a targeted initiative to assist a restricted group of home owners who have no other practical options to access redress. It is a scheme of last resort to repair homes affected by significant damage. The pyrite remediation scheme involves a number of stages commencing with a validation process by...