Results 8,741-8,760 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: In respect of the amount of money the Minister claims my colleague and others owe the State so to speak-----

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: If the Minister will allow me to speak, I will give him the answer. The reason for many of those meetings was to try to force the Minister and Government to make a commitment to put a grant system in place for those people who would require rectification.

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Until that was done, the Minister had not committed to it. Now he has committed to it, he will not tell me what is his estimate for provision for 2014. I do not expect him to tell me what it is next year because the Cabinet has not sat down to discuss it despite the fact that only four of them do so but I ask him to tell me what provision he has made for this year. He either has or has not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Will the Minister of State briefly explain the position? The allocation last year was so many million euro, but how much is the contingency fund this year after an 11% cut? My impression of the contingency fund, from the way it has been explained, is that massive, stinging cuts have been imposed throughout the country - up to 76% in some counties - and it seems the Department has decided to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister of State for her response. These cuts were made in the same week as those to the mobility allowance. It is amazing, insensitive, callous and targeting vulnerable people in the most ridiculous way. I heard the Minister of State say there are cuts across the board not just in her line responsibility but in every Department. When I measure that against some commentaries...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Will this mean it will now be five to seven years? The range of cuts is from 29% to 70%. Is the Government's disability strategy in tatters by virtue of the cuts that have been made across a range of services? If a commitment was made in the programme for Government to implement a disability strategy, where stands it now? When will the strategy be redrawn? What can people seeking these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by county of funding provided for the housing aid for elderly persons scheme and the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; the impact of these changes on his disability strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12863/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by county of the number of properties identified by the National Assets Managment Agency for social housing provision; the number accepted as suitable by local authorities; the number transferred from NAMA to the local authority or housing association; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by county of funding provided for the housing aid for elderly persons scheme and the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability in 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12617/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: European Parliament Elections (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will specify the time frame for the re-drawing of the European Parliament Constituencies; if his new regional authorities as outlined in Putting People first will from the basis for future Euro Constituencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12756/13]

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: It would be great if the Bill gave some indication as to what the situation would be for those to whom Deputy Buttimer referred, but there is no such provision. It is an interim Bill that sets up Irish Water and allows for metering to commence. The Government, in its wisdom, has stated that, in the absence of all of the information that it sought when the scheme was announced in the first...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: No definitive programme of action is on the table. The reasons for this are that the procurement process has not been completed and the regulator will be the one to make the decision. We have established that the Government will hide behind that person. We will pass the Bill despite there being no information ready to go to the regulator tomorrow morning. As we do not know when that...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: -----poverty proofing has not been completed and there are a few carriages still to be added to this train.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Only when all of the carriages are on the train will the Minister of State be able to confirm-----

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: -----with certainty that privatisation is not a prospect.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Minister of State cannot confirm how many carriages are needed.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: That he has failed to address the matter highlights the manner in which the Government has handled this process. This is similar to how it handled the household charge. It is all over the shop.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: It is. The Government will depend on the regulator, yet it will not give that person the necessary information to make a decision.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: When the same regulator was asked by the energy sector for an increase, he also gave it a premium. The Government has failed to address the issue of energy provision. Many companies with external investment are prepared, have licences, are connected to the grid and have planning permission. They can reduce the cost of electricity to the people we represent, yet the Government will not...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Government set the guillotine.