Results 4,061-4,080 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (22 Mar 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I have no function in relation to the matter of a building firm undergoing liquidation. It is important in such circumstances for creditors to bring any claims to the notice of the appointed liquidator without delay. Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (6 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Earlier this year, I announced the appointment of Mr. Denis McCarthy to chair the expert panel that is being established to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. Mr. McCarthy is a former Director of Services with Waterford County Council and has the necessary mix of skills and experience that will be required to direct...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (6 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Information in relation to ‘Total Social Housing Dwellings Stock’ including ‘Percentage Vacant’ is available on a local authority basis on the website of the NationalOversight and Audit Commission at the following link: . The most recent published information covering all local authorities is as at 31/12/2014. The routine turnaround of vacant social housing stock...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (6 Apr 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: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (6 Apr 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. In November 2015 local authorities were circulated with details of the regulations accompanied by associated explanatory...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (6 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Social housing is procured by housing authorities or by approved housing bodies in accordance with the relevant EU and domestic legislative and policy requirements as outlined under the National Public Procurement Policy Guidance and Capital Works Management Framework published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Housing authorities/bodies are also responsible for ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (6 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Under the terms of these various funding schemes supporting the delivery of social housing by approved housing bodies (AHBs), AHBs are the de facto owners of the properties and are required to make them available for social renting for the duration of the mortgage or, as the case may be, the availability agreement.  My Department cannot unilaterally make provision for their sale to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (14 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in the private residential rented sector covering, inter alia, security of tenure and the termination of tenancies. The provisions of the Act do not extend to the circumstances under which a landlord seeks a tenant for a property. The Equal Status Acts 2000 – 2004, which come under the remit...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (14 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Earlier this year, I announced the appointment of Mr. Denis McCarthy to chair the expert panel that is being established to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. Mr. McCarthy is a former Director of Services with Waterford County Council and has the necessary mix of skills and experience that will be required to direct...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (14 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The owner of a planned new single dwelling or domestic extension has a statutory obligation to ensure that the building or works are designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations which are made pursuant to the Building Control Act 1990. The performance requirements are set out in 12 parts (classified as Parts A to M) and eachPart deals with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (14 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 769, 791 and 792 together. The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the , the Board is independent in the performance of its functions and as Minister I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Spatial Strategy (14 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: In December 2015, Minister Kelly and I published a roadmap document entitled Towards a National Planning Framework - A Roadmap for the delivery of the National Planning Framework 2016. This followed Government approval to the commencement of the preparation of a new National Planning Framework (NPF) to act as a new long-term national planning and regional development framework as a successor...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Panel Report Recommendations (14 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The pyrite remediation scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to, inter alia, the recommendations set out in the (July 2012) and the relevant provisions of the . The full conditions for eligibility are set out in the scheme, which is available on the Board’s website at . It is a condition of eligibility under the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks (20 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks held its first meeting last week and, at that meeting, the panel agreed that it would arrange to meet with affected homeowners in Donegal in order to hear first-hand of the problems that have emerged in their homes. The panel would welcome all information that can be provided by affected homeowners which can assist them in their investigations in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments Data (20 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: Since 2010, an annual national housing survey of unfinished housing developments has been conducted during the summer months to monitor progress. In that period, the number of unfinished housing developments has decreased by approximately three-quarters, from nearly 3,000in 2010 to 668 in 2015. The detailed findings of the annual surveys, annual progress reports and other useful publications...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board Data (26 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) currently has 17 2,102 landlords and 323,982 tenancies registered. There are no definitive figures on the overall size of the rented sector in Ireland. However, a study by DKM economic consultants commissioned by the RTB and published in 2014 reported an estimated 85% compliance rate in relation to the registration of tenancies. Applying this estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Standards (26 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 to 442, inclusive, together. The 2014 report from DKM Economic Consultants, The Future of the Private Rented Sector(commissioned by the PRTB), put forward a number of options in relation to improving the quality of the rental stock. These include: - improving the enforcement of standards by local authorities by prioritising those properties more likely to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (28 Apr 2016)

Paudie Coffey: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (4 May 2016)

Paudie Coffey: My Department receives new social housing proposals of all different scales from local authorities, including development proposals above 50 units. The provision of social housing is, in the first instance, a matter for each local authority as the housing authority for its area and they determine the scale of such projects, taking account of the guidance set out in ‘Quality Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (4 May 2016)

Paudie Coffey: On 7 October 2015, my Department appeared before the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions in connection with its examination of central heating systems and the regulation of domestic plumbing. The existing and proposed arrangements relevant to the regulation of domestic plumbing were summarised for the Committee and are set out in the official report for the date in...