Results 4,521-4,540 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Data (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: I do not doubt the Minister's good intentions, goodwill, willingness and effort to address this issue, nor do I doubt the frustrations of the previous Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, to which the Minister referred. In fact, that is very much self-evident on a regular basis. The Minister committed in the Rebuilding Ireland document and again here today to a further 900 to 1,000 units between...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Data (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: That is an awful price.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commission on Domestic Public Water Services (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: As a member of the party that co-signed the confidence-and-supply agreement that provided a pathway to deal with this process, my understanding of the Business Committee's deliberations today is similar to that of the Minister. The configuration of the committee, the number of members and the levels of representation on it were all agreed earlier today. A motion will be forthcoming from the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commission on Domestic Public Water Services (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: If there are similar questions, I have no problem with it being grouped with them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Data (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: Undoubtedly, the greatest victims of the housing crisis in the midst of which we find ourselves are the homeless and those in emergency accommodation. There are massive records being set on a regular basis in peaks of homelessness, such as the 2,426 children in emergency accommodation. It is deeply frustrating and worrying for ourselves. We do not want to be seen to be angry about this,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commission on Domestic Public Water Services (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: Nor mine.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome again the commitment of the Minister and the acknowledgement of this being a factor which has to be investigated independently, properly and authoritatively with a view to informing the market of the actual cost of construction, which heretofore nobody has been able to provide. This aspect was a major recommendation of the Committee on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister. He acknowledges that it will be in the first quarter and that we would agree a framework for assessing that thereafter and a period which would be acceptable to the rest of the House. Will the Minister make available his Department's audit of the various cost burdens associated with house and apartment construction that led him to that decision, notwithstanding the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: 3. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has undertaken an audit of potential bottlenecks and undue regulatory burdens slowing down the planning process for building multi-unit housing developments such as apartment buildings or housing estates; the findings of this audit; and his plans to remove such blockages. [35580/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: The Government has acknowledged on numerous occasions that the cost of building houses and apartments is a key issue in the holding back of supply. However, there appears to be no mention of an intention to undertake regular audits of construction costs in the Rebuilding Ireland document, despite it being one of the main recommendations of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness. That...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: 1. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the proposals he is considering to try to stem inflation in rent prices in the private rental sector in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35579/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: Notwithstanding the initiatives in Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness to deal with supply and the housing crisis, for which enabling legislation is expected to come before the House in the weeks ahead, with one such Bill currently before the Seanad, we have an immediate problem in the rental sector where inflation is running at more than 10%. This rate of inflation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his response and acknowledge that he agrees with many Deputies on this side on the urgent need to introduce short-term measures to address the terrible inflation being inflicted on those who find themselves in the awful predicament of renting accommodation. I also welcome his commitment to consider the possibility of amending legislation to ensure security of tenure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: I assure the Minister that I will not seek to play political games on this issue. I want the legislation to be brought before the House in order that it can be analysed, scrutinised and improved. I want a consensus to be achieved in order that the legislative changes the House makes will have the desired effect and will be reviewed after six or 12 months. I want measures introduced...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: 17. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has undertaken an audit of potential bottlenecks and undue regulatory burdens slowing down the planning process for building multi-unit housing units, such as apartment buildings or housing estates; the findings of this audit and plans; and his plans to remove such blockages. [35469/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rent Controls (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: 53. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the proposals other than increasing supply, he is considering to try to stem inflation in rent prices in the private rental sector in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35470/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Data (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: 36. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to issue a circular to local authorities advising them on the maximum amount of time a family with children should be housed in emergency hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35466/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: 38. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether town councils should be restored; his further views on whether there is sufficient local democracy and well-functioning administration in large towns here; and if he is examining proposals to implement new administrative bodies for large towns in the national planning framework strategy. [35468/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: 62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he plans to revise the SI 9 Building Control Regulations for multi-unit dwellings; his views on whether the self regulatory assigned certifier system is the safest and most cost effective building control system. [35467/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Vacant Sites Levy (17 Nov 2016)

Barry Cowen: 149. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if vacant properties owned by Government bodies, local authorities and semi-State organisations will be subject to the vacant-site levy in 2019; and if not, the reason for the exemption. [35581/16]