Results 3,421-3,440 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Vacant Properties (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: There is nothing more irritating for people than to see voids not being used. The Government has told us it is dealing with this issue by putting more people into such properties. It has provided certain numbers. What criteria are used when returned voids are being calculated? How many returned voids were there in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017? I want to get a clear handle on that so I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Vacant Properties (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: According to the Minister, departmental statistics indicate that 8,517 long-term voids have been returned to use since 2014. According to the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, there were 4,202 voids in local authority housing stock in 2014, of which 1,082 were vacant pending regeneration - this includes O'Devaney Gardens - and 1,455 were in Dublin. If NOAC has said that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Vacant Properties (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: We all share the aspiration that there should be no voids in circulation. This scheme has received €85 million in Government funding. There appears to be double-counting. If the Minister cannot explain this sharp divergence orally, maybe he will put it in writing. The figure provided by an independent body is half the figure provided by the Department. It does not add up. We need...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: The statistics bear out my contention that the Government is putting all its eggs, or at least 75% of them, into the one basket of approved housing bodies for delivering units to those on the ground. I accept that many people who are waiting on housing and who want to see progress on this matter do not care where the houses come from as long as they get one and as long as there is potential...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: A total of 73% of those who have tendered-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: It is probably a while since the Minister and the Minister of State have done anything about housing.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Policy (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: A possible 300.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 1. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the impact the potential reclassification of approved housing bodies as general Government debt will have on Government housing policy and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52432/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: We can see that local authorities are not building houses at the rate one would hope. In quarter 2 of 2017, 76% of completions were by approved housing bodies. Of the sites started at that time, 63% were by approved housing bodies. There appears to be an over-reliance on approved housing bodies. I know the question has been put to EUROSTAT, which is investigating the fact that these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: I have a direct question. In the event of this being adjudicated to be off-balance sheet by EUROSTAT, can the fiscal space cope with the increase in funding that would be required? The Minister of State has intimated to us that he is asking local authorities to redouble their efforts and ensure that they are the lead agency regarding the provision of houses and that funding is not an issue...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 257. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the cold weather initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52434/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Control Management System (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 263. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of completion certificates logged for social housing developments (details supplied) in each of the years 2014 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [52450/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 264. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason for the difference between the figures provided to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government in late March 2017 (details supplied) and those currently listed on his Department's website statistic section. [52451/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 265. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the criteria by which a housing unit is deemed to be a void unit for the purposes of the National Oversight and Audit Commission. [52452/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 266. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the criteria by which a housing unit is deemed to be a void unit that has been returned for the purposes of the figures provided by his Department on same. [52453/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 267. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount collected in motor tax receipts by each local authority in 2016 and to date in 2017. [52454/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 268. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new section 28 guidelines for apartment developments will be published; his views on whether it was a mistake to announce the intention to change the guidelines so far in advance of their implementation; and if this has had an impact on the number of new planning applications for apartment development being lodged....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 269. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department, or a body under its aegis, has undertaken research of the effect of changes to section 28 guidelines for apartment standards on planning permission applications for new developments; and if there is evidence that changes to the guidelines, such as those on minimum size standards introduced in December 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 270. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the minimum permitted size for a bedroom in terms of floor area, defined as the location in which a person or persons sleep, under statutory provisions; and the minimum permitted bedroom size for the private rented sector if different. [52457/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (7 Dec 2017)

Barry Cowen: 271. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the minimum permitted size for ceiling height for occupied dwellings, not just new dwellings; and the minimum permitted ceiling height for the private rented sector if different. [52458/17]