Results 3,381-3,400 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The taking in charge of residential estates by local authorities is provided for under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Section 180(1) provides, in relation to estates which have been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority in accordance with the planning permission, that the planning authority must, if requested to do so by the developer or by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In accordance with section 40(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the duration of a planning permission is 5 years, but under section 41 of the Act a longer duration may be agreed where the planning authority consider this appropriate, having regard to the nature and extent of the relevant development and any other material consideration. Under section 42 of the Act a planning...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Assistance Payments (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The implementation of the housing assistance payment is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. The HAP scheme removes a barrier to employment, by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment, it improves regulation of the rented accommodation being supported and it provides certainty for landlords as regards their...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Assistance Payments (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: This is a matter we keep under continual review and in respect of which we engage closely with the Department of Social Protection and HAP pilot local authorities. South Dublin County Council reported that the successful implementation of the scheme was being hampered due to the shortage of available accommodation for eligible households within the rent limits which apply. We recognised...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Assistance Payments (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: We recognise that there are pressures, particularly in Dublin and the conurbation around it, in terms of all of the housing issues. HAP is one solution to address the housing demand that is there. With regard to rent limits, I have outlined that where the case is made and there is a real need, as in South Dublin County Council's functional area, we have applied the flexibility and...

Other Questions: Housing Assistance Payments (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for his question. The housing assistance payment has been rolled out to all categories of household in 13 local authority areas, including County Donegal. There are now over 2,600 households nationally in receipt of the payment. The payment has been operational in the administrative area of Donegal County Council since 25 May. In the seven weeks since it has been...

Other Questions: Housing Assistance Payments (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The figures speak for themselves, especially in regard to Donegal. In the seven weeks since the HAP has been rolled out, and it is only the second wave of HAP local authorities of which Donegal is one, over 40 households have been accommodated. That, in itself, proves it is working quite well in Donegal. We have ambitious targets for the HAP. With the Department of Social Protection,...

Other Questions: Housing Assistance Payments (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Social Protection has issued instructions to its local staff to use discretion as required. In the overall sense, we have ambitious targets for the HAP around the country and we are rolling it out to a number of local authorities. The second wave has just been announced and Donegal is one of six local authorities in that second wave. These are...

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I note Deputy Clare Daly and many other colleagues, from all parties and none, are actively engaged in assisting homeowners with the pyrite remediation scheme. I have been briefed on it. I visited a number of sites where remediation is getting underway and it is progressing at a rapid rate. I expect to be reporting considerable progress over the coming months. The pyrite remediation...

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Deputy Clare Daly acknowledges the progress that is being made. It is not before time. I am committed to ensuring we give it full focus and priority over the coming months. As I said, I expect substantial progress to be made now as more homes are remediated. The Deputy is correct in saying that some issues are coming to light when the mediation crews are moving onto site where they are...

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The budget is being provided for, and priority is being accorded to, those who are most affected, namely those in category two. However, I am conscious of many of the issues that arise. I have met many of the householders who have concerns. They do not know whether they have pyrite in their houses. Core testing is the only way this can be decided upon. I appreciate that it is costly but...

Other Questions: Building Regulations (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The current indications are that to meet rising demand and address recent under-supply, the level of house building in Dublin needs to at least double from the 3,000 or so new homes that were built in 2014. Consequently, the Minister and I wrote to the chief executives of each of the four Dublin local authorities regarding the preparation and finalisation of the new development plans for...

Other Questions: Building Regulations (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I understand where the Deputy is coming from and I want to reassure her that this is not about reducing standards. We already have minimum standards in this country and we comply with EU requirements. This is about ensuring we have development that is sustainable and affordable and that the construction of housing from the concept to design to planning to construction is affordable....

Other Questions: Building Regulations (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: It is not the Minister or I who are saying this. We have utilised expertise in the Housing Agency, which has carried out a deep analysis of the cost of delivering on housing units. We have addressed other areas that have added to cost. We debated some of those in the House last week during the debate on the Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill. Overheads like development contributions...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding the town centre development in Naas. The management of issues in regard to town centres is a matter for the relevant local authority. From inquiries made with Kildare County Council in this case, I am informed that its involvement in the Naas town centre development relates to the...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Government is introducing the Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill which is designed specifically to encourage and stimulate the output of housing supply in our towns and cities. This is logical because existing public services are in place and we need to utilise them to the best of our ability. There are also provisions in the Bill for urban regeneration. The vacant site levy is a new...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Tax Exemptions (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Section 10A of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012(as amended) provides for a temporary exemption of at least three consecutive years from the charge to Local Property Tax (LPT) for residential properties that have been certified as having “significant pyritic damage”. To avail of the exemption, the require that a liable person be in a position to demonstrate 'significant...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Social Housing Strategy 2020, published in November 2014, 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.  The Strategy will support an additional 35,000 new units to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies through a combination...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) has been rolled out to all categories of households in 13 local authority areas on a pilot basis. Dublin City Council is also implementing a HAP pilot for homeless households in the Dublin region on behalf of the 4 Dublin local authorities. There are now over 2,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Tax Exemptions (16 Jul 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the relevant contracting parties, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the materials supplier and/or their respective insurers and I firmly believe that the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply of defective materials should face up to their responsibilities and take appropriate actions to provide remedies for...