Results 741-760 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seanad Reform (5 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The all-party Seanad Reform Implementation Group [SRIG] published a Report and draft Bill in December 2018. The Report which contains recommendations in relation to electoral reform, which is the responsibility of my Department, as well as non-statutory reforms to the way the Seanad conducts its business, was noted by Government at its meeting on 30th April 2019. Government also noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Members' Remuneration (5 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001 and the Local Authority Members (Gratuity) Regulations 2002 to 2006 provide that, subject to certain conditions, a councillor who ceases to be a member of a local authority is entitled to receive a gratuity payment at, or after, the age of 50. This is regardless of whether the retirement is voluntary, as a result of failure to be re-elected or for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (5 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: As Minister with special responsibility for Local Government and having served as a member of Kilkenny County Council, I understand the vital role local businesses play in supporting local authorities to deliver services to their communities. Commercial rates, at approximately €1.5bn per annum, make up roughly a third of local government current (revenue) income. Recognising the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (5 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Local authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government. Central Government funding of local authorities includes transfers, both current and capital, from a range of Departments and Offices for a variety of purposes. Some streams of funding are delivered directly from funding departments to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (5 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Local Property Tax (LPT) accounts for approximately 9% of the local government sector’s current income, amounting to allocations of €503m in 2019. It supplements income from commercial rates, from the provision of goods and services and from government grants. Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another, as do their LPT bases, and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (5 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Section 12 of the Water Services Act 2014 provided that the property of the public water system was not rateable. Prior to this provision, some water assets were valued for rates purposes. Irish Water was therefore not liable to pay rates during the years referred to in the question. This exemption was ended by section 61 of the Water Services Act 2017, which was commenced with effect from 18...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Fund (5 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Government is providing €156 million to support local authorities through the exchequer contribution to the Local Government Fund (LGF) in 2020 meaning that, on a like-for-like basis, local authorities are expected to be in receipt of €23 million more in funding in 2020 when compared to 2019. The extra €23 million represents an increase of 27% in exchequer support for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Insurance Data (24 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together. I have no function in relation to the matter raised in the questions and the specific detailed information requested is not available in my Department. Local authorities are independent in the execution of their functions and the elected members are democratically accountable for all expenditure of the authority. Insurance claims and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (23 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am taking this on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. It provides an ample opportunity to discuss future developments in the Finglas area. When listening to the Deputy's opening remarks, I was reminded that the Church of the Annunciation is visible from the top deck of the Cusack...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (23 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I have had the opportunity on many occasions. I must confess I was not aware that the population in the greater Finglas area is 32,000. It is a significant population centre and we need to provide additional facilities for it. Following the closure of the Church of the Annunciation in Finglas last October, Dublin City Council acquired land on two adjacent but separate sites from the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (23 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The redevelopment of the smaller site, as the Deputy indicated, is being taken forward by the council and is supported by the Department. The homes for the elderly are a priority for the Government. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, held a conference on housing for the elderly last year with the Minister of State, Deputy English. A policy document on housing for the elderly was...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Autism Support Services (22 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising the matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, who is in London on Government business today. It is the policy of the Department of Education and Skills that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Harbour Authorities (22 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue. I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the House on the issue of Dún Laoghaire harbour and its future development. He is correct to say that we should focus on the future at this stage. The Senator referred to the document entitled National Ports Policy 2013 when he mentioned the time the Taoiseach was the Minister for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Harbour Authorities (22 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: To reiterate, I have no problem with meeting the executive or councillors about the proposals they have to draw down funding to carry out the necessary works in Dún Laoghaire. I presume the Senator was a member of the board when he was a councillor.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Harbour Authorities (22 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Did the council have any nominees to the board?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Harbour Authorities (22 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I understand the issue to the effect that it is almost 12 months since the order was passed. The legislation refers to a six-month timeline. The council would be happy if it was finalised before the end of the year. With regard to ensuring that the accounts are laid before the Houses within the next number of weeks, it is perfectly legitimate for the Senator to ask that question. I will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (22 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Government is providing €156 million to support local authorities through the exchequer contribution to the Local Government Fund (LGF) in 2020. Support for local government in 2020 has been realigned, largely as a result of the valuation of Irish Water as a global utility liable for commercial rates.  From 2014 to 2019 compensation was paid to local authorities in lieu...

Road Traffic (Amendment) (Use of Electric Scooters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (16 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I wish to share a minute and a half of my time at the start of this time slot with Deputy Rock, if that is agreeable.

Road Traffic (Amendment) (Use of Electric Scooters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (16 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Once again, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ross, I express my appreciation to Deputy MacSharry for bringing this Bill before the House but, for the reasons already outlined by Deputy Rock and the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, we have tabled a timed amendment to the motion that the Bill be now read a Second Time to allow three months for consideration of the outcome of the current...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Members' Remuneration (16 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter which is to the forefront of my mind. Like her, I deal with councillors every day of the week and the underlying reality is that they are underpaid. The purpose in conducting the review was to examine how we should remunerate them appropriately into the future. Following on from the feedback from local authority elected members and their...