Results 6,741-6,760 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: My point is similar to the point just made. The witnesses do not need me to tell them that we have a housing crisis. There are many commercial factors contributing to that crisis, and undoubtedly this is one of them. A decision was made by An Bord Pleanála seven months ago. The Department says that it contacted local authorities and asked them to be vigilant and proactive on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: Is Mr. Ó Cleirigh saying that is what needs to be done here?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: Of what relevance is it then?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: Mr. Ó Cléirigh also said local authorities should be vigilant and cognisant of An Bord Pleanála's decision and its duty as a local authority on foot of being informed. Is the Department relying on the public or others to inform it of the activity of certain properties or would there be a proactive response on the part of the enforcement offices of local authorities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: As we have heard, there may be taxation issues, there are regulatory issues and there are planning issues now on foot of the decision of the board. Does Mr. Shakespeare know in the Department how many cases have been taken country-wide, if any, to date?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: There has been just one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: Is that it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: The working group met last week. Did Mr. Ó Cléirigh not point out at that meeting that it has had 40 cases, it could have 400, it needs to ascertain where this is going and whether, as Mr. Ó Cléirigh himself said, there is adequate personnel available within the enforcement offices of local authorities, whether more are needed, whether the working group needs funding from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: I do not have any questions for the witnesses. I would like, however, to thank them for and acknowledge their efforts in terms of the preparation of the report provided today, which reaffirms our beliefs in respect of this sector. While short-term letting might not be the main contributory factor in the homelessness crisis, it is not helping and is making a critical situation worse. We...

Building Standards, Regulations and Homeowner Protection: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: 2 o’clock I move amendment No. 2:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:“deeply regrets the tragic loss of life in Grenfell Tower, London as a result of a devastating fire on June 14th; recognises: — that the horrendous human cost of the fire highlights the importance of building regulation and fire safety...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: 234. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if cladding (details supplied) can be used in low rise or high rise buildings here under current building regulations; if his Department tracks through the building control management system the use of such cladding materials; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact if it has been used in buildings here....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: As a member of the committee, I wish the Minister well and congratulate him on his appointment. It is in all our interests that Rebuilding Ireland would be a success, notwithstanding the gaps that we know that are in it in terms of supply initiatives. We hope to use our influence in so far as we can to try to ensure that the Minister takes on board some of our initiatives and policy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: The Minister has answered questions on hotels and I want to clarify a point. The numbers are increasing, unfortunately, in respect of those who are presenting as homeless. The Government is not meeting the target that was set. The Minister has said that hotels will be used in exceptional circumstances. Does the Minister consider we are in exceptional circumstances if the figures continue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: Rents are still increasing, so more people will present. Of those people who find themselves homeless, their last residence was more than likely rental accommodation. Families go from rental accommodation to families, to displacement and then to homelessness. We are still in exceptional circumstances. It is still an option and it must remain an option. It is unfortunate, but it remains...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: That is the point. The Minister referred to budget 2017, but it did not provide for spikes or exceptional circumstances which have arisen and are quite obvious to us now. Does the Minister have enough funds within his existing envelope or will he need supplementary funds to meet the demands that are being placed on him in this area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: Are local authorities adequately resourced and funded to carry out the inspection responsibilities and duties that are incumbent on them in relation to the issue I mentioned in respect of Airbnb, and in relation to fire services?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: I can give a concrete example of a local authority that is way behind in its inspection of properties that are being funded by HAP and RAS.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (22 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: An inspection rate of 70% is not good enough. We need to know exactly what it would cost to have it foolproof. The Minister has a job to do in respect of Government finances to ensure that local authorities are adequately resourced and financed to carry out those inspections, which we would expect them to do anyhow, but which they cannot do at present.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Relief Expenditure (27 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: 170. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of introducing a scheme to enable landlords in the private rental market to claim full relief on their mortgage interest as an expense against rental income. [30115/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (27 Jun 2017)

Barry Cowen: 393. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [29831/17]