Results 13,001-13,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: There are always exceptions with passports with which we have been dealing. With respect, my office has been accommodating to many Members on this issue for several weeks.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: It is true that extra staff come in on a seasonal basis as passport applications spike, as they always do, in the build-up to the summer.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: We have also sanctioned overtime to deal with the backlog because of the difficulties caused by the recent bad weather. The Deputy can see the evidence of that in that two weeks ago passport express applications were taking three days but today they are taking 16 days.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: As usual, the Deputy sees conspiracies around every corner.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme was a measure which was discussed between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Finance, as any scheme would be when significant moneys are involved. In this case it was a €200 million fund and, of course, there was back and forth, questioning its merits. The truth is that at the end of that discussion,...
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: They will not. The Deputy is like the Member who raised questions yesterday, expecting a silver bullet to solve the affordable housing problem. That is not going happen.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy does not like to hear what is happening because it is starting to work.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: There is a broad range of measures to reduce rental inflation and to increase the number of affordable homes which are available.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: In the past several weeks, the Minister has been speaking to the European Investment Bank, EIB, on funding new proposals and cost rental, another concept which the Government is developing.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: There is a specific category of person who cannot simply get access to the financial resources and lending to be able to buy homes at affordable prices.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: That is what this loan scheme is going to respond to. We are getting significant interest in it which is showing that it is working.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: It is good to hear the Deputy is no longer talking about social housing targets because we are actually starting to meet them now.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: This year we will deliver over 4,000 and last year it was 2,000.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy does not like the answers to the questions.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: Will the Deputy now allow me to give the figures on affordable housing? Through the serviced sites initiative, as well as a combination of money and land, we now have a target figure of 3,000 units.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: We will be getting the figures back from local authorities.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: This is the usual problem with Deputy Ó Broin. When one provides the data and the answers he requests, he tries to talk one down. He just does not want to listen.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: The truth is Rebuilding Ireland is now starting to gain traction and is working. The Deputy, however, does not like to hear the facts.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: That was a long three minutes from Deputy Darragh O'Brien.
- Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)
Simon Coveney: I was not making any accusations.