Results 4,021-4,040 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (13 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 requires local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. To this end, local authorities have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (14 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses came into operation on 1 January 2016 and provides opportunities for tenants to become homeowners, while also promoting sustainable communities and generating additional funding from sale proceeds for local authorities to refurbish and replenish its housing stock. The scheme is open to tenants, including joint...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: My Department published statutory guidelines for planning authorities in June 2013 on Local Area Plans under Section 28 of the Planning Act 2000 (as amended). Section 5 of these Guidelines offer advice as regards the structure and content of local area plans and sets out a range of policies that can be put in place to promote and facilitate active and healthy living patterns for local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Energy Rating Compliance (19 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The European Union (Energy Performance of Building) Regulations 2012 provide for the transposition in Ireland of Directive 2010/31/ EU on the Energy Performance of Buildings. This includes the requirement for assessing the energy performance of buildings before they are occupied, sold or leased in line with the Building Energy Rating (BER) Scheme administered by the Sustainable Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tree Remediation (19 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Planning legislation places no specific restrictions on the height of trees, nor does it make any particular provision for remedy from any other nuisance which may be caused by trees in an urban residential area. However there is currently a civil remedy available concerning branches or roots of neighbouring trees encroaching on a person’s property. The previous Minister of State for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tax Reliefs Eligibility (19 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The Finance Act 2015 provides for 100% tax relief in respect of mortgage interest payments on borrowings used by a landlord to fund the purchase, improvement or repair of a residential rental property . The tax relief is available where the property is let to an individual in receipt of rent supplement or housing assistance payment, or leased to a local authority for social housing. In order...

Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (20 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Louth County Council has informed me that the Woodland halting site in Dundalk was a purpose-built permanent and transient site. However, it has been vacant since 2007, when the last of the two occupants of the site at that time were accommodated by the construction of two dwellings in a group housing site at the edge of the site. The illegal occupation of this site has been ongoing since...

Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (20 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: While I acknowledge and recognise the concern of the Deputies, who rightly raise the issue, I want to reject some of the charges they have made. The statement I have made to the Dáil is factual and correct and is the current situation in terms of the history of the site and what is going on in regard to it.

Topical Issue Debate: Traveller Accommodation (20 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I also remind Deputies that Louth County Council, as the housing authority, is the responsible statutory authority in law for ensuring the implementation of the Traveller accommodation programme. I assure the Deputies that I, the Department and the Government are committed to ensuring that Traveller accommodation needs will be met in a safe and sustainable way. I also have confidence that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: In December 2015, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, brought a proposal to Government from South Dublin County Council in relation to amending the existing Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Balgaddy-Clonburris to incorporate the land referred to in the question and the Government approved the revised SDZ designation. The revised designation of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (20 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The Passive House Standard referred to is a standard developed and controlled by the Passive House Institute in Germany. It would not therefore be appropriate to adopt it as a mandatory standard having regard to the principles of fair competition enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings requires EU Member...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (21 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I refer to the reply to Question No. 35 of 10 December 2015 which sets out the position in relation to this matter and remains relevant. Arrangements for the appointment of the chair of the expert panel are advancing and I expect to be in a position to announce the chairperson shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (21 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses came into operation on 1 January 2016 in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The scheme is open to tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (26 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: My Department is committed to working closely with local authorities in addressing issues around pyrite-related structural defects in social housing units. Where necessary, my Department has provided, and will continue to provide, financial assistance to local authorities in cases where pyrite remediation proposals are included in the work programmes put forward by local authorities for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ceadúnais Feamainn a Bhaint (26 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Níl aon iarratas ar cheadúnas foirmiúil ar mhaithe le feamainn a bhaint faighte ón gcomhlacht luaite. Cuir eadh foirm réamh-iarratais isteach chuig mo Roinn i mí Feabhra 2015. Nuair a fuarthas an fhoirm, lorgaigh mo Roinn tuilleadh eolais dá bharr, ach táthar ag feitheamh ar an t-eolas seo.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: He buried himself in reports.

Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (27 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 46:In page 8, line 1, to delete “Act” and substitute “Part”.

Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (27 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I move amendment No. 47:In page 8, line 10, to delete “2011” and substitute “2015”. This is a minor drafting amendment to update the reference to the Child Care Acts to include reference to the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015.

Social Housing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Deputies from all sides of the House for their contributions to this debate over the past two nights. Something we can all agree on is that the country requires more homes for its people. Fortunately, the Government has responded by putting in place two strategies, first, the Construction 2020 strategy and, second, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 to deal comprehensively with the...

Social Housing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Jan 2016)

Paudie Coffey: They are allowed.