Results 1,061-1,080 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (11 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome this debate because it concerns an area of deep interest to me. It is important that we debate and focus continually on how we can regenerate our towns and villages. As the Deputy requested, we will engage with the local authorities on the €30 million stimulus fund targeted at the renewal of towns and villages. We will be making calls in this respect. The local...

Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (11 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising what is an important matter for him, namely, the Naas town centre development. He has raised it a number of times and it is of concern to him and his constituents. However, the management of issues relating to town centres is primarily a matter for the relevant local authority. From inquiries made of Kildare County Council, I am informed that its involvement...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (10 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 537 together. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has signed the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 to enable the new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines to come into operation on 1 January 2016. The new year commencement...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rainwater Harvesting Systems Provision (10 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I refer to the reply to Question No. 280 of 12 November 2013 which sets out the arrangements currently in place to encourage the use of rainwater harvesting and to promote water efficiency in the built environment. I have no plans to obligate building owners to install rainwater harvesting systems in new buildings. However, by referencing such systems in the building code, as has been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: My Department collates and publishes a range of planning statistics on a yearly basis, including the number of invalid planning applications received by each planning authority. The latest published statistics - for 2014 - are available on my Department’s website, as follows:. The annual planning statistics for Cork County Council are not broken down on a Divisional basis.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Article 19 of the Planning a nd Development Regulations 2001– 2015, made under section 33(1)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, specifies requirements in relation to displaying notice of an application for planning permission. Paragraph (3) provides that “Where a planning authority considers that the erection or fixing of a single site notice is not sufficient to...

Other Questions: NAMA Social Housing Provision (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Government has enabled and facilitated NAMA in playing an important role in the delivery of housing supply generally and social housing in particular. In that context NAMA affords public bodies first option on the acquisition of land and property required for demonstrable public purposes. NAMA is also funding the construction of new residential properties to help meet demand in the...

Other Questions: NAMA Social Housing Provision (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: As announced on budget day, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, has asked NAMA to carry out an analysis of development sites controlled by its debtors and receivers with a view to identifying the scope for residential delivery for the period up to 2020. It is important to note that its target of 20,000 residential units by the end of 2020 estimates that 90% of that will be in...

Other Questions: NAMA Social Housing Provision (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: There is ongoing engagement. We will incur further deeper engagement because it is in everyone's interest that we deliver as many housing units as possible.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Now, now.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I fully respect the views of all Senators. This is an important Chamber for debate and it is important that we listen and discuss the issues involved. The amendment provides for the appointment of the members of the climate change advisory council to be performed by the Oireachtas rather than the Government on the nomination of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Senator. It is important to put on record that the advisory council can invite any representatives, including Senators, before it to debate the issues. The Minister and I encourage it to do so. If any Senators wish to engage with the council, it will prove an important platform.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: This proposed amendment would render the responsibility of providing climate change-related advice by the advisory council to the Oireachtas as a whole rather than to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The fundamental point is that it is the Minister and other members of the Government who are the main actors in and responsible for these matters. Therefore, it...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank all Senators for their contributions on this and the overall debate. I have not been party to much of it in the Seanad, but I was party to much of it in the Dáil. I agree it is important that with the compilation of the national mitigation plan there is engagement with all sectors including communities, the grassroots and local authorities, which are possibly the first vehicle...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I am happy to clarify for Senator Barrett that this is essentially a practical matter regarding how to disseminate the information contained in the publications. Senator Keane's interpretation of the wording is correct. The proposed amendment calls for the complete removal of the reference to the Environmental Protection Agency in decisions concerning the means of publication of the annual...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Senator Barrett for tabling this amendment, which calls for a shortening of the timeframe for the climate change advisory council to conduct its first periodic review from 18 months after establishment to six months. The first periodic review will be a very important one in that it is specifically charged with analysing the progress made in meeting our mitigation targets up to the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I am not trying to underestimate the Senator's concerns with regard to delays. I do not underestimate those concerns. We are having an important and critical debate about climate change. I think Members of all parties and none are generally supportive of this history-making legislation. We all know and feel that we have to act. I think that is generally agreed. It is not something we...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: One of the first lessons I learned when I was a Member of this esteemed House was that I should listen before I speak. I think that is very important for any public representative. I am listening carefully to what Senators on all sides of the House are saying. I note what Senator Barrett has said about healthy tensions in relationships in politics, business and other fields. It is always...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Data (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In April, we set social housing targets for each local authority out to 2017, along with provisional funding allocations, which will see an investment totalling €1.5 billion to meet an ambitious delivery target of some 22,900 social housing units. The investment will be in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes designed to accommodate more than 25% of those currently on...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Data (5 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: New units.