Results 41,861-41,880 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: This amendment relates to reliefs sought from local property tax relating to properties which are mortgaged and where there are mortgage arrears or mortgage restructuring arrangements in place. The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act of 2012, as amended, provides for reliefs from LPT in such circumstances, whereby a person may opt to defer or partially defer payment of the tax.Where a person...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ground Rents Payments (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The following table schedules the ground rents payable to landlords on properties managed by the Office of Public Works. The OPW is not in a position to supply details on ground rents that may be payable by other Government Departments or Agencies on behalf of the State. PROPERTY NAME GROUND RENT PER ANNUM LANDLORD Cork SWO - Hanover Street €361.88 EXECUTORS OF PERROTT ESTATE Dun...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works recently carried out works to repair the boundary wall adjoining the access roadway to the car park and also repairs to the access roadway itself at the Government Offices in Buncrana. The repairs were due to some wall cracking and localised settlement in the ground. Works are now complete since the 4th December 2015. There are no further works planned at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) very recently received from Clare County Council (CCC) a copy of the feasibility study report prepared by the engineering consultants engaged by CCC to examine the flooding issues at the location mentioned. The OPW will be responding to CCC in due course when it has completed a full review of the feasibility study report.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Kildare County Council (KCC), in consultation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), engaged Consulting Engineers to carry out a Full Feasibility Study, Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Lower Morrell River and the surrounding River Catchment in an effort to resolve the outstanding localised flooding issues in the Straffan area. A Steering Group...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I shall begin by thanking all of the Senators for their contributions on the Finance Bill. Any time I have come to the House we have had an interesting and informative debate, and today has been no different. On behalf of the Minister for Finance and myself, I thank everybody for their comments and viewpoints. There were some suggestions and advance warnings about matters that Senators...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: A significant change has been made and it is as much as we could afford on this occasion. The Minister has, however, indicated that he sees a change to the group A tax-free threshold in this year's budget as the start of a process. Provided, among other factors, that our economic recovery continues, and if the Minister remains the Minister for Finance, he intends to examine the scope for...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The UK started in the exact same way as we are doing. Unfortunately, we must remain within the fiscal rules. If we put more into one area, we have to take it away from another. It is about getting that balance right. The relief will be kept under review and subject, among other factors, to the economic recovery continuing, we see significant scope for further enhancing it into the future....

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Portfolio (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Durkan. As I said, NAMA is legally constrained from commenting on assets under the control of its debtors. Because this is confidential information, neither myself nor the Minister for Finance would have knowledge of a specific property's relationship with NAMA. Section 99 of the NAMA Act 2009 sets out how the transfer of loans and the various rights and obligations relating...

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Portfolio (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this issue of importance to all Deputies in terms of wanting to see development of their town centres and the return of economic activity. As the Deputy is aware, NAMA is legally constrained from commenting on assets that are under the control of its debtors, which is confidential information as defined by the NAMA Act as passed by this House. On the...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Does the health service get any funding in America?

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Deputy Adams might make the Deputy Minister for Health yet.

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Deputy Adams will make the Deputy Minister for Health.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Coastal Erosion (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to update the Seanad on the subject of coastal erosion. I echo his comments on the courageous work carried out by local authority workers right around the country, including in Galway, during the very difficult storms and floods we experienced a number of years ago. Coastal erosion is a natural and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Coastal Erosion (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It stands to reason that my office can only fund projects it has been asked to fund. If we have not received an application we cannot assess the application. Without knowing the specific details of Tawin Island, Galway County Council will be well aware of the criteria for the minor works scheme and if it sees merit in submitting an application I assure the Senator it will be assessed as a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Relief Measures (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter, on which she has been working for quite a few years at this stage. I hear, and share, her frustration that this is going on so long. Only a few weeks after taking up this role, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of residents in the area and I know the grave difficulties they have experienced and their continual fear of future...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Relief Measures (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: As soon as An Bord Pleanála makes a decision - a matter with which I do not wish to interfere - if we are ready to proceed with the scheme, then I would be delighted to meet the Senator and update her on the timeline for getting these works in place. We are very committed to this. We want to see it happening. It has been a long time in the offing. We have set aside the funding and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Twenty six Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) are being assessed in County Donegal under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. These were deemed to be areas of potentially significant flood risk under the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) which was completed in 2011. The Donegal AFAs are being assessed under the North...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (1 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Kilcummin Pier, Kilcummin, Ballina, Co. Mayo is not an Area for Further Assessment (AFA) within the Western Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) study, as it was not deemed to be an area of potentially significant flood risk under the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) which was completed in 2011. For more information on the PFRA please see www.cfram.ie It is not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (1 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The management of problems of coastal protection in the locations mentioned is a matter for Kerry County Council (KCC) in the first instance. KCC must thoroughly assess the problem and, if it is considered that specific measures and works are required, it is open to them to apply for funding to deal with coastal protection under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works...