Results 4,401-4,420 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I could respond in a moment rather than shouting across the Chamber at the Deputy.

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I will do my best. There were a lot of questions and, obviously, Members had a lot longer to ask them than I have to answer them. On immediate works, let me be clear that there is an ongoing scheme called the minor flood mitigation scheme, for which any local authority can apply to the Office of Public Works. It has clear criteria. All the local authority engineers are well aware of it...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ground Rents Payments (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The following table schedules the ground rents payable to landlords on properties managed by the Office of Public Works. The OPW is not in a position to supply details on ground rents that may be payable by other Government Departments or Agencies on behalf of the State. PROPERTY NAME GROUND RENT PER ANNUM LANDLORD Cork SWO - Hanover Street €361.88 EXECUTORS OF PERROTT ESTATE Dun...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works recently carried out works to repair the boundary wall adjoining the access roadway to the car park and also repairs to the access roadway itself at the Government Offices in Buncrana. The repairs were due to some wall cracking and localised settlement in the ground. Works are now complete since the 4th December 2015. There are no further works planned at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) very recently received from Clare County Council (CCC) a copy of the feasibility study report prepared by the engineering consultants engaged by CCC to examine the flooding issues at the location mentioned. The OPW will be responding to CCC in due course when it has completed a full review of the feasibility study report.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Kildare County Council (KCC), in consultation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), engaged Consulting Engineers to carry out a Full Feasibility Study, Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Lower Morrell River and the surrounding River Catchment in an effort to resolve the outstanding localised flooding issues in the Straffan area. A Steering Group...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The local property tax was introduced in 2012 and was designed to serve a dual function. First, it provided a stable funding base for the local authority sector, incorporating appropriate elements of local authority responsibility. As such, it strongly reinforced local democratic decision making and encouraged greater efficiency by local authorities on behalf of their electorates. Second,...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It has.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: No, it is not.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It does not.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It is 2019.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate. It is clear that the Minister for Finance’s decision to allow the next Government the space, and to seek the mandate from the people, to make any necessary amendments or tweaks to the policy of local property tax, LPT, is prudent. My view and that of the Minister and the Government is that LPT is an important form of taxation...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: He may be back. From 1 January 2015, local authorities have had the discretion to vary the local property tax rate by plus or minus 15%. Several authorities have exercised this option and between its inception and the end of 2015, the LPT is expected to have contributed more than €1 billion to the funding of local authorities. I note, however, that some will apply a smaller, or no,...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for putting forward these amendments. I am advised that the local property tax is forecast to collect €440 million in 2015. These receipts would be lost if local property tax was abolished and would need to be found elsewhere. This would represent a substantial loss to the Exchequer, particularly as under the terms of the Stability and Growth Pact, Ireland may...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: This amendment relates to reliefs sought from local property tax relating to properties which are mortgaged and where there are mortgage arrears or mortgage restructuring arrangements in place. The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act of 2012, as amended, provides for reliefs from LPT in such circumstances, whereby a person may opt to defer or partially defer payment of the tax.Where a person...

Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I will.

Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is playing politics with a national emergency. Does he want us to be like Bertie Ahern with his wellies?

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The River Tolka has a history of flooding following heavy rainfall, which has been well documented after major flood events in 1954 and subsequent years. The river has been the subject of a number of investigations, and of most significance were those carried out in 1955 and 1986. Severe flooding from the Tolka River and its tributaries occurred in the Dublin City, Meath and Fingal areas in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The provision of flood defences in Foynes is being undertaken by Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Council has developed a scheme which has been approved under Part Viii of the Planning and Development Regulations. The Council is currently progressing the procurement of a civil works contractor to undertake the scheme works and is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: My previous reply to this question sought to explain that the design of OPW funded flood relief schemes including the design height of any flood defence walls included as part of the schemes must satisfy the required standard to provide protection against the 1 in 100 year flood event in the case of rivers and the 1 in 200 year event in the case of coastal or tidal flooding. This is a...