Results 2,801-2,820 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In 2013, the Housing Agency was asked to conduct a standalone review of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures. While an initial draft of the review was received from the Agency, a number of issues have been identified that need further detailed financial analysis in order to fully assess the impact on local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (29 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines. The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020,published in November 2014, includes a commitment to introduce the new scheme by the second quarter of this year. The detailed terms of the scheme will be set down...

Topical Issue Debate: Property Tax Exemptions (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly. The Government decided to make local authorities liable for the local property tax in order that local authority tenants would be treated in the same way as tenants in the private sector in which landlords may pass on the cost of the tax to tenants in the form of increased rents, if...

Topical Issue Debate: Property Tax Exemptions (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: While I acknowledge some local authorities reduced the local property tax, it does not come without a cost. As the Deputy knows, reducing it reduces the budget available for delivering front-line services such as services for the homeless that we wish to prioritise. It is a matter for local authorities to prioritise what they feel the local property tax should be spent on. I will say no...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister, Deputy Kelly, and I share his concerns that this modern, purpose-built facility has not yet been fully tenanted. My officials are continuing to liaise closely with Dublin City Council to resolve the matter urgently as the current situation is not acceptable As the Deputy is aware, this facility was funded under my Department's...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I accept the Deputy's point that Dublin City Council has nominated many tenants. The waiting list needs to be facilitated and these modern purpose-built units are ready for letting. The current impasse cannot continue and the Minister, Deputy Kelly, and I will be keeping a sharp focus on the ongoing meetings, one of which takes place tomorrow. At the meeting, I will urge that progress be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: My Department has no record of a foreshore licence application for the works described. Kerry County Council have advised my Department that the Council have responsibility under the Arterial Drainage Acts for the maintenance of the local Akeragh drainage network incorporating the Kilmoyley and Ardfert land drainage networks. The mouth of the Akeragh is susceptible to blockage and the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Minister of State for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Paudie Coffey) The pyrite remediation scheme, which was published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February of 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the Report of the Pyrite Panel (July 2012) . The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 582 together. Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines. Statutory instruments will be made setting a single commencement date for the introduction of the new scheme by all housing authorities and prescribing the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: My Department is continuing to engage with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office concerning matters in relation to the foreshore lease application concerned. There is a challenge by a Third Party to the State’s ownership of the foreshore and this challenge relates to an area of foreshore that forms part of the application. I will only be in a position to make a determination on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 and 581 together. In the third quarter of 2014, rents were 5.6% higher nationally than in the same quarter of 2013, according to the most recent rent index from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). Rents for houses were 4.3% higher while apartment rents were 7.3% higher than in the same quarter of 2013. In Dublin, which is seeing the highest...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (3 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 and 2009 apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy. The definition of “dwelling” in section 4(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 excludes a structure that is not permanently attached to the ground and a vessel and a vehicle (whether mobile or not). In addition, section 3 of the Act provides that the Act does not apply to...

Topical Issue Debate: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The main cause of rising rents is a lack of supply in the market. The Deputy mentioned the social housing strategy 2020, which was published last November. This is not just a strategy. It sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. In addition, the...

Topical Issue Debate: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: With due respect, this is the first social housing strategy in a generation. I commend the Government and in particular the Minister, Deputy Kelly, on the work they have done in ring-fencing significant funds. This is a significant commitment by Government to address the social housing deficit. The Deputy should at least make some acknowledgement of those efforts. To say on the floor of...

Topical Issue Debate: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The strategy has been put in place. The funding has been provided.

Topical Issue Debate: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Government has reiterated its commitment.

Topical Issue Debate: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: We are now engaged with local authorities, approved housing bodies and every other stakeholder that can contribute to offering solutions to the huge social housing deficit. We will deliver on that because the next phase of that implementation is about to be rolled out in coming weeks. The Deputy will see in his constituency as in other constituencies, the start of that delivery. This...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (4 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In accordance with the Building Control Regulations 1997 to 2014, a n extension to a dwelling involving a floor area greater than 40 square metres and which does not constitute exempted development for planning purposes, require s statutory certification by a registered professional for building control purposes. The fee for the professional services is determined by market forces and...

Topical Issue Debate: Library Services Funding (5 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Deputy Kitt for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, and for providing me with an opportunity to set out the position on funding for the public library services. I would like to state at the outset my own personal commitment to the library service and to library facilities, which make a real difference to...

Topical Issue Debate: Library Services Funding (5 Feb 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I reiterate the commitment of my Department and its Ministers to local authorities and the public library service, including its future development. A sum similar to the €143.4 million allocated for libraries in 2014 will be allocated in 2015 to a very valuable service. It is important that the service has a strategy in Opportunities for All. The strategy recognises the continuing...