Results 14,661-14,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The oversight and management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant housing authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all housing authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: House Purchase Schemes (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Where a household’s current accommodation no longer meets their need (whether or not they  purchased the home using a loan from the local authority), they may apply to their local authority for social housing support. In order for a household to qualify for social housing support, a housing authority must carry out an assessment to establish whether the household...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The requirement to provide a rent book is set out in the Housing (Rent Books) Regulations 1993. These regulations were subsequently amended in 2004 and 2010. All landlords are obliged to provide tenants with a 'rent book' (or other documentation serving the same purpose) at the commencement of a tenancy. The purpose of the regulations is to provide the tenant with basic details...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016.  The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the scheme’s...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to relieve critical infrastructural blockages in order to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas with high demand for housing. Tipperary County Council received approval for funding of €780,000 under LIHAF for the provision of a distributor road and roundabout...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not sought legal advice in relation to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) judgment referred to by the Deputy. In relation to the question of state aid, it should be noted that, unlike the position under the Flemish Decree considered in the case, a Part V agreement does not provide for tax incentives and subsidy mechanisms for the developer, some...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Ministerial  functions in respect of local authority compulsory acquisition of land under a number of enactments transferred to An Bord Pleanála with effect from January 2001 under the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Accordingly, I have no function in relation to the making or confirmation of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and my Department does not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Applications (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are currently no such applications with my Department. All such applications should first be made to the relevant local authority who would then submit a proposal to my Department seeking approval. The 2017 funding provision for the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) is €66 million. Applications to deliver new social housing under the scheme should be made by an Approved...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Individuals or companies seeking to harvest wild seaweed from the foreshore require a foreshore licence unless they have a right to do so. This legislative requirement to hold a foreshore licence for seaweed harvesting has existed since the enactment of the Foreshore Act in 1933. All applications are assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Act and any environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Question No. 181 of 3 May 2017 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Estates (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Under the provisions of Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), I am specifically precluded from intervening in individual cases. However my Department has made inquiries to Tipperary County Council in relation to the estate the subject of this question and I have been informed that the Council has received a Taking in Charge application in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 233 together. My Department does not collate data in relation to accommodation let on a short term basis for tourism purposes. Article 10(4) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2015, dealing with change of use exemptions for planning purposes, provides that development consisting of the use of not more than 4 bedrooms in a house, where...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Finance (Excise Duties)(Vehicles) Act 1952 provides that motor tax for goods vehicles is based on the unladen weight of a vehicle (the weight of a vehicle weighed with the heaviest unladen trailer or trailers used during the validity of a tax disc). The unladen weight of a vehicle is not documented on the Vehicle Registration Certificate.  Rather, the Vehicle...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: While delays can arise in relation to projects for a range of reasons, including planning and procurement issues, I am satisfied, on the basis of social housing delivery in 2016 having exceeded targets and the substantial progress which has been made already in the early months of 2017, that the delivery of social housing continues to gather further significant momentum. As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, a Rapid-Build Housing Programme is being implemented, through which I expect in the region of 1,500 rapid-build units to be delivered by 2018.  While this programme is being implemented, in the first instance, to mitigate the issues associated with using hotels as emergency accommodation for homeless...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rent Controls (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 lays out the process through which rent pressure zones can be designated.  It provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered as a Rent Pressure Zone. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Standards (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is important to point out that there is no direct correlation between the definition of overcrowding contained in Section 63 of the Housing Act 1966 and the recently published CSO Census 2016 Report, Profile 1 Housing in Ireland.   The CSO report has highlighted that 95,013 households (almost 10% of the population) are living in homes with more people than...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.  Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Calculations (16 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: 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 Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Commercial rates form an important...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Vehicle Registration (11 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Registration of vehicles is a matter for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.  Prior to the establishment of the central vehicle register in 1993, registration numbers were issued by the local licensing authority.  My Department issued a Circular to licensing authorities in 2013, setting out procedures for record searches for vintage...