Results 5,741-5,760 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vacant Sites Levy (28 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 230. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government with respect to the new vacant site levy that will take effect in 2018, if only owners of properties that have been vacant a year from January 2018 will be liable to pay the tax or if owners of properties that have been vacant a year prior to January 2018 will also be liable to pay the levy in 2018. [18549/16]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vacant Sites Levy (28 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 231. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, in view of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness report, he will agree to amend the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 to ensure the levy will also apply to public bodies such as the Office of Public Works and local authorities. [18550/16]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vacant Sites Levy (28 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 232. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the rate of the vacant site levy is high enough to act as a disincentive to land hoarding in view of evidence given to the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness. [18551/16]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vacant Sites Levy (28 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 233. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government with respect to the new vacant site levy, how the market valuation of the land will be determined and by what body; if local authorities or another body will undertake any global site valuations at regular intervals; and if there will be any link with site valuation for commercial rates purposes. [18552/16]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reports (28 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 234. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide a list of all analysis or reports undertaken by his Department or a body under its aegis since 2012 which have sought to audit construction costs in the residential and commercial construction industry, including the name of the report with a short description of the nature of the analysis undertaken and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (28 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 433. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied), including when the person will receive an appointment. [18344/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 1. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if and when he will re-establish town councils. [18786/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: This question relates to the Government’s intention to re-establish or re-instate town councils, not necessarily in their previous form but around those towns which have certain population numbers. Will the Minister seek to respond to that commitment? As we all know, and Labour found out to its cost towards the end of the last term, it is not reform when 1,100 councillors are got rid...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his answer, despite the fact I cannot agree with all that is contained in it. It states an ongoing review is taking place and many city and county managers are happy with the progress being made.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: That is not the case on the ground and it is not what is being relayed to me by local authority members and constituents. The Minister spoke about the number of councillors per head of population being over 2,800. In Denmark, a country of a similar size, it is one councillor per 1,115. In County Offaly, two electoral areas were joined together, Birr and Ferbane. The new area has six...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: The Minister has committed to a review to address the functionality of what has taken place and the functionality of what may emanate from a review, how it is funded and the devolution powers. I have mentioned some instances where these were not at all appropriate or have not turned out as one would have expected or wished. There is also the area of facility services available to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 3. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reform the conditions attached to the tenant purchase scheme for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18787/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: Notwithstanding the fact that we have a housing crisis and great difficulty in providing the units for those on the housing list, as alluded to by the previous speaker and many others on several occasions, there are ways, means and methods to provide units in the coming years. These include implementing the recommendations of the all-party special housing committee, the Minister of State's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister of State for his answer. He mentioned that certain criteria are to be reviewed after 12 months, and the figure he has given of 73 applicants tells its own story. Clearly the criteria are not expansive enough to allow people the opportunity to take advantage of any such scheme, hence our bringing forward a Bill in the first instance regarding those who should have the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: Rather than wait the 12 months for the review, I ask the Minister of State to commence it immediately if possible. I further ask him to consider our proposed Bill this week which would seek to include Part V housing in the criteria, allowing those in Part V units the opportunity to purchase them. There should be no discrepancy, and I hope the Minister of State accepts that. I will put the...

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: Only the Minister of State can contribute now.

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: No.

Other Questions: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: A volunteer.

Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: 10. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his proposals for renewal of town centre sites; and if he is considering legislation to allow the utilisation of compulsory purchase orders for the purpose of town renewal. [18556/16]

Other Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (29 Jun 2016)

Barry Cowen: I am sharing my time with Deputy Lawless. The Minister of State, Deputy English, is well aware that there are many towns and villages with empty, dilapidated buildings that are not contributing to the well-being of the communities in which they are situated. The associated issues may concern title, conveyancing, lack of funds, banks not lending and no retail activity. As we know, this is...