Results 1,121-1,140 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Construction Sector Strategy (3 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1050 and 1065 together. A number of companies currently provide structural warranties or latent defects insurance cover in respect of new residential buildings. Such insurance providers are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland .My Department has no function in relation to this aspect of the matter .For consumers such products have the advantage of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Estates (3 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The taking in charge of residential estates by local authorities is provided for under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Section 180(1) provides, in relation to estates which have been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority in accordance with the planning permission, that the planning authority must, if requested to do so by the developer or by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Flood Risk Assessments (3 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I understand that this project comprising a cycleway proposal as well as flood alleviation works to address higher tides and sea levels was originally approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2011 under section 226 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, relating to foreshore developments. The environmental impacts of the project were assessed as part of this process. Dublin City...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Expenditure (3 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: A sum of €19 million was announced under Budget 2016 to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme in 2016. This represents a substantial increase over the allocation of €10 million provided in 2015 and is a clear signal of the importance attached by Government to addressing the issue of pyrite remediation and will facilitate an acceleration in activity under the...

Report of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs on Voting Rights of Irish Citizens Abroad: Motion (23 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I listened with interest to the debate and what was said by the various contributors. I thank the Deputies for their contributions. It is clear that voting rights are dear to the hearts of many Irish citizens resident outside the State. We all acknowledge that, as does the Government. In terms of some of the main considerations that arise for analysis, it is important that we weigh up the...

Report of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs on Voting Rights of Irish Citizens Abroad: Motion (23 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In conclusion, I acknowledge the work of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs, led by the Chairman, Deputy Hannigan, and thank all of the committee members for their invaluable work. We look forward to continued engagement on this important issue.

Report of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs on Voting Rights of Irish Citizens Abroad: Motion (23 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: No. My statement is on the record.

Report of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs on Voting Rights of Irish Citizens Abroad: Motion (23 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I am glad to take this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly. I thank Deputy Hannigan and the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs for their report, Voting Rights of Irish Citizens Abroad. It is good to have an opportunity to discuss the issues raised in the report and update Deputies on related developments...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (21 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Deputies need not be so cynical. I assure the Deputies that the Government is treating this as a matter of major priority in terms of finding all the resources and finance we can make available to invest in social housing. We have put on the public record our strong commitment. We have underpinned it by budgetary commitments and the rolling out of an ambitious social housing strategy. In...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (21 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: However, it is something we are willing to engage with to try to progress as soon as possible. I welcome that the Irish League of Credit Unions recently made a substantial proposal to my Department. We will work with the league to try to advance this as soon as possible. For the sake of the taxpayer, however, any proposals must be correctly analysed, stress tested and proofed to ensure...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (21 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important matter in the Dáil, and I thank both Deputies for raising it. I am happy to make a statement to the Dáil. I agree that we need to look at how the credit union movement can be facilitated in providing financial investment into social housing. I particularly acknowledge the willingness and eagerness of credit unions to do so. As...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Directives (21 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Directive 2014/52/EU of 16 April 2014 amends Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. The deadline for Member States to transpose Directive 2014/52/EU into national legislation is 16 May 2017. It is my intention to transpose the necessary legislative amendments required by the amending Directive in advance of the set...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant (21 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Employers or persons with a disability who have been offered employment or are in employment may be able to obtain a grant towards the cost of adapting premises or equipment under the Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. I have no function in relation to this scheme.

Topical Issue Debate: Valuation Office (20 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I am replying on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Kelly. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Commissioner of Valuation has...

Topical Issue Debate: Valuation Office (20 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: As I stated in my introductory remarks, local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015, to which Deputy has referred, is under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: South Dublin County Council is seeking to amend the 2006 Government Order that designated 180 hectares of land at Clonburris as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), by extending the SDZ boundary to incorporate an additional 100 hectares of land. Section 166 (1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides for the making of such an Order by the Government when so proposed by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (20 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 658, 659 and 681 together. The necessary Regulations for the new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines are at an advanced stage and are expected to be finalised and signed by end October 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: There are no reports of the kind referred to in the Deputy’s question underway in my Department. However, there are currently two Planning reviews being carried out by my Department. The first has been undertaken by MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants, who were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions having...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (20 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The most recent data from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) for Q2 2015 show that on an annual basis, nationally, rents were 7.1% higher than in Q2 2014. Rents for houses were 6.4% higher, while apartment rents were 7.6% higher than in the same quarter of 2014. These annual rates of increase were driven mainly by the Dublin market. Overall, in the 12 months to the end of Q2...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2015)

Paudie Coffey: As provided for under section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I can direct a planning authority on their development plan up to four weeks after the plan has been adopted where I have formed the provisional opinion that firstly the Planning Authority has ignored or not taken account of a submission made on my behalf in respect of the development plan and secondly that...