Results 1,981-2,000 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: As the Deputy noted, many legacy issues have arisen in various areas of the country. We are discussing the issue of pyrite, however. The Deputy will agree that the primary responsibility for building defects lies with the builder, developer or company which supplied the relevant building material. They should be the focus of any redress. As I outlined, the pyrite resolution scheme is...

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I am certainly not trying to absolve the Government or State of any responsibility in this regard. It is a pity the new building regulations and inspection regime introduced by the Government had not been in place many years ago as it may have prevented many of the legacy issues highlighted by Deputy Daly. I reiterate that the pyrite resolution scheme is an option of last resort. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Yield (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Deputy Adams got his figures wrong.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established in September 2004 under the Residential Tenancies Act. For the first six years the PRTB was in receipt of Exchequer funding towards operational costs but has operated on a self-financing basis since 2010.The PRTB’s funding is derived primarily from a proportion of the fee income accruing from tenancy registrations, as set...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Insurance Coverage (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Minister of State for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Paudie Coffey) While I have no function in relation to the regulation or oversight of insurance providers or insurance based products, I am acutely aware of the upset and distress faced by many homeowners who have been affected by pyritic heave and am conscious that their difficulties have been exacerbated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The private rented sector is an important element of the housing market, with the proportion of households in the sector almost doubling in the period 2006-2011. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants including in relation to rent, security of tenure and the termination of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions in six selected planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.  I expect to receive the final...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Vacant Site Levy (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The proposed vacant site levy will enable local authorities, should they wish to do so, to apply a levy on vacant sites in urban centres within their functional areas with a view to incentivising and stimulating the development of such sites. The proposals for the levy are as set out in the General Scheme for the Planning and Development No. 1 Bill which I published in November 2014. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Section 14 of the Building Control Act 1990 provides for the establishment of a Building Regulations Advisory Body to advise on matters relating to the Building Regulations and to provide advisory services for or on behalf of the Minister. The Body has no executive function. Currently there is no Building Regulations Advisory Body in place. The last such Body was appointed in June 2007 for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Data (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The figures presented in the Annual Planning Statistics document are based on information submitted by all planning authorities to my Department. While my Department strives to ensure that the statistics presented are correct, the accuracy of the figures is dependent on the accuracy of the data submitted by each planning authority. Investigation of the situation regarding the data in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Application (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Building Control Regulations 1997 to 2014, incorporating S.I. No. 9 of 2014, must be construed together as one. Article 7 of the regulations addresses generally the application of Part II of the regulations which deals with commencement notices and certificates of compliance before construction. Article 7 includes a general exemption in respect of works which is exempted development...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I refer to the reply to Question No. 16 on today’s Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Planning Framework (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The 2002 National Spatial Strategy(NSS) was Ireland’s first national strategic spatial planning framework and outlined policies and objectives to secure a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth between regions through the co-ordinated development of nine gateway cities and towns, and nine hub towns, together with complementary policies to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Since 2010, an annual national housing survey of unfinished housing developments has been conducted during the summer months to monitor progress. Since 2010, the number of unfinished housing developments has decreased by approximately, two-thirds; from nearly 3,000 in 2010 to 992 in 2014. It is expected that with the aid of the Special Resolution Fund (SRF), outlined further below, a further...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (28 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In 2013, the Housing Agency was asked to conduct a standalone review of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures. While an initial draft of the review was received from the Agency, a number of issues have been identified that need further detailed financial analysis in order to fully assess the impact on local...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I note the Senator's comments but I remind him that the current guidelines were adopted as recently as 2006. The Government recognises that they need to be reviewed and that is what we are doing. We have consulted widely with all stakeholders in this regard. We have received 7,500 submissions and, therefore, it is wrong to state the Government is making no effort. We are making every...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly and I thank the Senator for raising the issue. Proposals for wind energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Expenditure (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. The Pyrite Resolution Board commenced accepting applications from eligible homeowners for inclusion in the pyrite remediation scheme on 26 February 2014. As matters stand , the Board has received in the order of 627 completed applications of which some 597 have a Building Condition Assessment with a damage condition rating of 2. A...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Regulation (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The regulation of gas and electricity heating installers is undertaken by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I am not aware of any plans for the establishment of a state regulatory body for the installation of other fuels along the lines suggested. However, I understand that industry stakeholders are developing both a training and registration scheme for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (27 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that the membership of the Board of An Bord Pleanála shall comprise a Chairperson and up to 9 ordinary members. The processes for the appointment of the Chair person and the ordinary Board Member s are set out under sections 105–107 of the Act and associated regulations. In relation to the position of Chairperson, the...