Results 14,701-14,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The table below provides data on the total number of dwellings let by local authorities and the number of active Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies at end 2015. - Total Number Dwellings directly let by local authorities 137,937 HAP tenancies 5,853 In relation to homes provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), there are 546 AHBs in Ireland, ranging from small voluntary-led,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Since the introduction of the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions in 2012, a total of 3,672 cases have been submitted under the scheme to the end of March 2017.  Of the 3,672 cases submitted, 2,816 were ineligible or terminated during the process.  Of the remaining cases submitted, 235 have been completed and the remaining 621 are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (9 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: Local Authority Boundaries (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The statutory provisions relating to local government areas and local authorities are set out at sections 10 and 11 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended.  Section 11 provides that the administrative area of each local authority is the relevant county, city, or city and county, as set out in Schedule 5 to the Act, including County Kilkenny in the case of Kilkenny County...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Boundaries (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 239 together. I refer to the reply to Question No 474 of 2 May 2017. As stated, I will address all relevant issues arising from the boundary report on Waterford, and from other recent and forthcoming reports on local government arrangements, as part of an overall report on local government matters which I will be submitting to Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Boundaries (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Question 259 14 February 2017.  The legislation governing local authority boundary alterations is set out in Part V of the Local Government Act 1991. As specified in section 31(1)(a) of the Act, alterations of the boundaries between local authorities may be made by Ministerial Order, but any such Order would require approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commencement of Legislation (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am proposing to make certain amendments to section 28 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 relating to the extension of duration of certain planning permissions within the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, which is currently progressing through the Oireachtas.  It is intended that this Bill will be enacted before the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. Applications to deliver new social housing under the Capital Assistance Scheme should be made by an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to the relevant local authority. As with all social housing projects, it is a matter for the local authority, as the housing authority for the area, to prioritise projects on the basis of how they meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Data (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are currently over 21,000 households being supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in 31 local authority areas. The HAP scheme is funded through a combination of Exchequer monies and tenant differential rents collected in respect of HAP tenancies. The  exchequer outturn for the HAP scheme in 2016 was in excess of €57 million. The majority of this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are currently two Mortgage to Rent (MTR) schemes funded by my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority (LA) can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (LA-Mortgage-to-Rent). The other scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to acquire ownership...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Irish Water (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water is responsible for water services infrastructure including water supply pipes or sewers extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a private property. Irish Water has established a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have no plans at present to re-introduce an Affordable Housing Purchase Scheme because there are a range of measures being taken under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness to increase housing supply overall, with the aim of creating a functioning and sustainable housing system which can meet housing demand at more affordable prices.  The plan is divided...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have no proposals to change the existing position whereby a change in the use of a holiday home to permanent accommodation requires planning permission.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) screening processes are undertaken by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) as part of the assessment of a foreshore licence/lease application, on foot of which a decision is made whether to seek an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Appropriate Assessment (AA) screening will focus on whether the project...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Property Tax Collection (9 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Local Property Tax (LPT) is collected and administered by the Revenue Commissioners and is remitted to the Central Fund. Since 2014, the Minister for Finance pays an equivalent to the amount collected in LPT into the Local Government Fund. The Revenue Commissioners publish LPT information including details of LPT collected in all local authority areas on their website at the following web...

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I will ensure everybody will receive a copy. In addition, my Department invests significant resources in world-leading citizen activation and awareness raising programmes such as Clean Coasts and related programmes, as well as the green schools marine environment module which has been developed recently. We will continue to attempt to have a positive influence on societal behaviour on...

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I want to acknowledge Deputy Sherlock's intentions and the motivation behind this.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am not moving an amendment. I also want to acknowledge the role of Senator Grace O’Sullivan in raising these issues. I share the concerns of both Deputy Sherlock and Senator Grace O’Sullivan and many others from various parties who have spoken in this debate. I share the same vision as the Deputy in the outcome which we want. There are some problems with the legislation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for the invitation to be here today to participate in its consideration and scrutiny of the Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016, which seeks to provide constitutional protection for the public ownership of the public water system. Members will be aware that the Bill before us passed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I will try to respond. First, I cannot give members information I do not have. We shared the briefing we sent to the Office of the Attorney General with the committee. It is the same briefing, so we have been transparent about what we are doing. We are in consultation with the Attorney General's office in terms of getting advice - the type of advice the member appears to have received...