Results 3,181-3,200 of 8,073 for speaker:Peter Burke

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputies for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion. To clarify, I understand that the Minister will write to the Minister for Health, not to NPHET, regarding the extension of the moratorium.

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: That is why I said "to clarify". As the Minister stated, the Government is providing an array of supports for citizens during this difficult period, which we intend to keep under review. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, continues to help anyone experiencing problems with budgeting and debt during the Covid-19 pandemic. MABS, under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Transport Policy (15 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Hourigan for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity to highlight the importance of active models of travel and the public realm now more than ever in the light of what we know about the Covid-19 pandemic. It is vital to ensure that timely and appropriate measures are put in place to support public health advice and best practice in response to the pandemic,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Transport Policy (15 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: Thank you for your good wishes, a Cheann Comhairle. This gives me a key opportunity to highlight these issues and to show that this funding is available. I thank Deputy Hourigan for raising the matter and bringing it to our attention. There is a funding stream within the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport from which the Covid mobility framework can be drawn down. Essentially,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (21 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I understand is a source of concern for a number of her constituents. At the outset, I should highlight that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, as environmental regulator, is responsible for setting quality standards and enforcing compliance with EU directives and national regulations for drinking water supplies and wastewater...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (21 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: As I stated in my opening remarks, Irish Water's primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat, collect and return wastewater safely to the environment. In providing these critical services Irish Water plays a role enabling social and economic growth. It faces a great challenge because more than 1 billion litres of wastewater from homes and businesses...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (21 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: Irish Water is a fully independent in its legislative basis. It has a budget from the State through the capital investment -----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (21 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: It is independent so it has its own CEO and independent board. It is independent from the State.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Wastewater Treatment (21 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I will do my best and bring the strong case made by the Deputy to Irish Water.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: In order to support the local government sector, my Department continues to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow under review and is working with all local authorities on all issues arising in the context of the Covid-19 public health emergency. While the County and City Management Association has estimated the loss of non-rates income for 2020 to be in the region...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I assure the Deputy that the Department is working very hard and liaising with local authorities on a daily basis to measure the funding deficit and plan the July stimulus, which will be announced later today. Rates account for approximately 30% of local authorities' income on average. Goods and services account for in the region of 28% of their income, a sum of €1.5 billion...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I am a little perplexed by the Deputy's comments. I have been very clear that certainty will be provided by the Government later today. Our response will be of scale. I said very clearly in my initial reply that there will be no cuts to local authority staff or services. I made that absolutely crystal clear. I also made it very clear that the components of today's stimulus package aimed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. A range of measures to assist in meeting Ireland's housing needs by ensuring that our existing housing stock is used to the greatest extent possible were set out in pillar 5 of Rebuilding Ireland. An overarching action within that pillar was the commitment to develop a national vacant homes reuse strategy. This strategy was published by my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: It is very clear regarding vacant houses that a blend or suite of measures is needed to ensure that we bring housing back into use. In the pilot project that was undertaken by the Department in connection with six local authorities, they found a vacancy rate of around 2.9%. That required two inspections over a six-month period. At times this can be put across as though there is a huge...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: That is an area for which my Department does not have responsibility but I take the Deputy's point, which is very well made. It is an issue that has to be tackled. Myself and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will raise that with the Department. The Deputy also alluded to that measure. There are a number of measures that need to be brought together as a blend to try to get housing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: The local infrastructure housing activation fund was introduced by the previous Government. It is a key tool in the context of activating sites and is linked to the national planning framework, which is important in keeping our towns and villages vibrant. Sometimes the issue of vacant housing can be taken out of proportion. Looking at the vacant homes register, in Roscommon in the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I take on board the Deputy's concerns about Irish Water. I would be at pains to point out, however, that the Department has invested significant funding in a co-ordinated approach to try to unlock vacant properties. I refer to measures to deal with the ghost estates we were left with after the crash and the amount of money that was invested in unlocking unfinished estates. The latter...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for his kind words. The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future sets out a range of actions that relate to local authority funding, including a commitment to review how commercial rates will be treated for the remainder of 2020. The programme also commits to bringing forward legislation for the local property tax, LPT, on the basis of fairness and where...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: Many measures can be used to measure the funding local authorities receive. On population size, this can be a crude instrument to determine what level of funding is delivered. As I said, the increase to Meath County Council since 2016 is very clear. Other avenues are available to, and are at the disposal of, the local authority to increase funding. One key issue is if the local authority...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Funding (23 Jul 2020)

Peter Burke: With regard to the local property tax, it is incorrect and not factual to say that all other grants were removed from local authorities. Record streams of funding are now available to local authorities through urban and rural regeneration funds and various grants, including equalisation funds for local authorities that are short. By raising the property tax in County Longford, the council...