Results 3,941-3,960 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank all of the Deputies who have made valuable contributions irrespective of their viewpoints. Some we might agree with and some we do not, but we value them. The debate was a wide-ranging one covering planning issues relating specifically to the Bill and extending to housing-related matters, which the Bill is intended to address by increasing supply and addressing the viability of...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Next Wednesday.

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, who, as we know, is out of the country. I wish to be associated with the comments of Deputy Cowen on how we should empathise with all those who have been seriously affected by the recent flooding and past flooding. We have seen footage of flooding that has affected homes,...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I reiterate that there has to be a cross-government response involving the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the OPW, the Department of Social Protection in so far as it supports families who are directly affected, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, all the agencies that come under the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I do not propose to revise the targets for social housing delivery announced last April and issued at that time to all local authorities to cover the period out to end-2017.  Those targets are in line with the Social Housing Strategy and have been carefully calibrated to make a substantial impact on the housing waiting lists of all local authority areas across the country. The delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the social housing list. The Strategy targets the delivery of 35,000 new units, to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, and 75,000 units in the private rental market to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The figures referred to by the Deputy relate to the position at the end of June. The latest figures represent progress to the end of September 2015 , at which point a total of 1,600 NAMA related residential properties have been delivered for social housing use . This comprises of 1,241 completed properties and a further 359 that have been contracted and where completion work is on-going. A...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) continues to play an important role in the delivery of social housing. To the end of September 2015, a total of 1,600 NAMA residential properties had been delivered for social housing use, comprising 1,241 completed properties and a further 359 that have been contracted and where completion work is on-going. A further 486 properties are considered...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The funding support that my Department provides for local authorities to return vacant social housing units to use is directed at units where remediation costs greatly exceed the normal end-of-lease maintenance costs. While the costs that local authorities might need to incur are not capped, support from my Department is subject to a limit of €30,000 per unit.  This funding is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses will come into operation on 1 January 2016 and will provide opportunities for tenants to become homeowners, while also promoting sustainable communities and generating additional funding from sale proceeds for local authorities. Under Section 13 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, as amended, local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In November 2014 the Government approved the Social Housing Strategy 2020 which sets out a strategic framework for meeting the State’s social housing needs to the end of the decade. The Strategy also 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 social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In delivering on the targets of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, local authorities and approved housing bodies are utilising a range of delivery approaches to meet the needs of those on the housing waiting lists. The acquisition of properties is an important component of this delivery, as is the remediation of vacant units. This is particularly so given the time-lag in delivery for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The pyrite remediation scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the (July 2013) and the provisions of the . To be eligible to apply under the scheme, dwellings must have Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. The Pyrite Panel recommended a categorisation system...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: A decision to grant or refuse a valid planning application is generally made by a planning authority within 8 weeks from the date of receipt of the application . However, the decision period can vary, particularly if the planning authority seeks further information from the applicant in relation to the proposed development which it should do within the first 8 weeks after receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Social Housing Strategy 2020 provides a comprehensive response to the need for social housing and targets the provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme. The output target for 2015 is set at...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (10 Dec 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. I also understand that HomeBond Insurance Services Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: 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 accommodation for homeless persons rests with the individual housing authorities and the purposes for which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In order to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to their difficulties, I recently announced my intention to establish an expert group to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in both Donegal and Mayo. While building defects are, in the first instance, matters for resolution between the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: A shortage of supply is at the heart of the current challenges in the housing sector and the Government is addressing this on a number of fronts. The Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy, published last year, is aimed at addressing issues in the property and construction sectors and ensuring that any bottlenecks that might impede the sector in meeting residential and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Expenditure (10 Dec 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The information is being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy shortly. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) are key delivery programmes under the Social Housing Strategy. In the case of RAS, the Scheme was established with the dual purpose of eliminating long-term dependence on the...