Results 14,941-14,960 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Projects (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority, with a right of appeal to An Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are currently two local authority house purchase loan offerings available to lower income first-time buyers from local authorities. Both loan offerings, the standard annuity mortgage and the Home Choice Loan, are directed at first-time buyers unable to secure adequate loan finance from a bank or building society and who wish to purchase a new or second hand property...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness (July 2016), which is available at the following link,, is focused on increasing supply, across all tenures, to achieve total housing output of at least 25,000 homes per year by 2021 and beyond, effectively doubling the output of 12,600 homes recorded in 2015. While still at an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 286 to 288, inclusive, together. The results of the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments carried out as at 21 September 2016 provide details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority and whose housing need was not being met on that date.   The 2016 results provide a breakdown by each...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Data (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are currently over 20,000 households being supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in 31 local authority areas. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, including the number of Rent Supplement Transfers, in each local authority area at 31 December 2016 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: . A breakdown of households...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including rapid build homes.  At the end of 2016, a total of 350 rapid build homes were advancing through various stages of delivery, including construction, with 22 rapid build homes being delivered and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is a matter for each local authority to determine the nature, location and relative priority of individual social housing projects. In submitting proposals for funding to my Department in respect of new social housing projects, local authorities may include proposals for single social houses in rural areas where they have identified and prioritised such need. Local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (11 Apr 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: Irish Water (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together. 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. Water metering is an operational matter for the utility and one in which I have no function. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 to 297, inclusive, together. The Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) is a multi-disciplinary standing committee which has provided scientific, technical and engineering advice on applications for foreshore consent for the past three decades. The Chair of the MLVC is Mr Richard Cronin, Senior Adviser in my Department's Water and Marine...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: My role, as Minister, in relation to the planning system is mainly to provide and update the legislative and policy guidance framework. The legislative framework comprises the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Under planning legislation, the day-to-day operation of the planning system, including enforcement...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: The information sought is provided in the following table. In addition to the meetings identified in the Table, certain of the individuals concerned may, as required, also have been in attendance at meetings which I held, including, for example, in relation to policy development/legislation. It should also be noted that my Department hosts an annual meeting of all Chairs/CEOs of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services is currently deliberating on the findings of the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services. The Committee is chaired by Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh. Other than encounters arising by virtue of both myself and Senator Ó Céidigh being based in the Leinster House complex for much of the working...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Expert Commission on Domestic Water Services was established as an independent body to make recommendations on the optimal funding method for water services in Ireland. I met with the chair of the Commission, Mr. Kevin Duffy, on 7 July 2016 to invite him to chair the Commission. I had no further engagements with the chair or any members of the Expert Commission.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is set out in the following table: No. of phone calls Dates No. of Meetings Dates 1 01/09/2016 5 12/05/2016 02/11/2016 29/03/2017 30/03/2017 31/03/2017 

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Irish Water (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the overall commitment to Irish Water's capital investment of €5.5 billion to end 2021, as set out in Irish Water’s Business Plan 2014-2021. The Irish Water Business Plan is based on the domestic charging regime as provided for in the Water Services Act 2014. The Plan was considered by Government in October 2015, and was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Register of Electors (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: The preparation of the register of electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty, as far as possible and with the cooperation and engagement of the public, to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of that register. Local authorities strive to ensure there is a balance between having everyone entitled to be on the register of electors present on that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: Details on the number of properties constructed, purchased and leased by all local authorities, to include Offaly County Council, for letting to those on their social housing waiting lists are available on my Department’s website at the following link: . Information on quarter four of 2016 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The data gathered does not provide detail in respect of the number of engineers employed in the roads department of Galway County Council, the geographic area of their location or by project and accordingly the information requested is not available in my Department. My Department works closely with Galway...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Development Contributions (11 Apr 2017)

Simon Coveney: The charging of development contributions allows local authorities to recoup some of the costs to public funds of servicing land for private development, without which the development could not proceed. Development contributions can only be levied as capital funding for public infrastructure and facilities and as such, cannot be used to pay current costs. Income from development...