Results 2,041-2,060 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (14 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The overall social housing funding provision for 2015 has been increased by in excess of €200 million, with capital funding increasing by €180 million, which will allow for significant expansion in social housing provision. The Social Housing Strategy 2020:...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (14 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I refer to the reply given to Questions Nos. 541 and 542 of 18 December 2014 which comprehensively addresses this matter and which remains the up-to-date position .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Under planning legislation, development - including change of use - require s planning permission unless it is specifically exempted from this requirement. The relevant legislative provisions are contained in sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and in Part II and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Jan 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Sections 40 and 41 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide that the “appropriate period”, or duration, of a planning permission shall normally be 5 years, but may be longer than 5 years where the planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála as the case may be, considers that this is appropriate having regard to the nature and extent of the relevant development and any...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The charge has been made that the Minister, Deputy Kelly, and myself are not prepared to listen to contributions from this House but that could not be further from the truth. Both the Minister, Deputy Kelly, and I are former Members of this House and we respect and value the debate that takes place here. Just because, unfortunately, we cannot support a lot of the amendments that have been...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: -----or any of them-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: I want to make it clear to the Senators and to reiterate that fully audited Irish Water accounts will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas for full scrutiny by whoever wishes to examine them. In addition, the Oireachtas joint committee can require Irish Water to appear before the committee to again discuss in full its accounts, structures and all its operational and capital...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: Questions are legitimate about the expenditure from the public purse. I reassure all Senators that any Government expenditure in any Department is subject to full audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, and that will happen in this case also where Government funds provided by my Department will be subject to such oversight. In addition, with regard to the Irish Water elements, the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: -----and the accounts and how it is presenting them to the public, and I will tell the Senator why. It is conveniently not taking account of the commercial water rates that will be an income under the Irish Water funding model and that will be an important income under that model. It is also incorrectly bringing the conservation grant onto the books of Irish Water which, as we all know, is...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: It also not allowing for the benefit of the establishment of the modern fit for purpose asset management system that is being established for the first time in this State for water infrastructure, and that is important also. It does not take account of possible fines and pending fines from the European Union if we do not address many of the pollution issues in this country.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The Deputy's party is not addressing the fines that can be imposed on this country if we continue to allow raw sewage to flow into our rivers and bays.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: More important, it is not taking account of the negative economic impact if we do not invest in our water infrastructure.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: We saw how Galway city was nearly shut down by the cryptosporidium outbreak a number of years ago. We saw last year how Dublin city could not supply an adequate water capacity. There will be an negative economic impact if we do not address many of these issues.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: Fianna Fáil cannot have it every way. Irish Water has already appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts earlier this year. The question was raised as to whether it could be brought before it. It has already appeared before it and I am sure it can be brought back before it committee again.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: That is correct. It has also appeared before the Oireachtas joint committee. The bottom line is that Ministers and Departments are accountable and will appear before the Committee of Public Accounts and the Oireachtas joint committee on the environment to account for any State expenditure in this regard.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The funding models will be a matter that will be kept under constant review in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, given his particular role in regard to the oversight and accountability arrangements for the commercial semi-State sector generally, and that has always been the case. There will be a role and a continuing role there. For the information of Members,...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: It will be subject to full audit. Its audited accounts will be laid before the Oireachtas. It will be subject to appearing before any Oireachtas joint committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General will have full oversight and accountability for any State funds expended by any Department. That should reassure Senators about any concerns they have.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The Senator will not decide that matter.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: That was not my only answer.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Paudie Coffey: The Senator said that was my only answer. I am saying it is not.