Results 15,441-15,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Controls (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: When we are designating an area as a rent pressure zone, we need to know that there has been a sustained and unaffordable level of rental inflation over a period and that the rents in the area are very high by comparison with the national average. If there is a sustained problem in Maynooth, it is likely to qualify at some stage in the not too distant future.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Controls (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The application of these restrictions across the board nationally would have had extraordinary effects in some parts of the country where the provision of rental accommodation is not viable as a result of significant falls in property prices and rental values in recent years. One of those effects would essentially have been to put a ceiling on those very low values. This would have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Controls (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: There must be legal grounds for eviction. There are now extended notice periods in these circumstances. The legislation we introduced recently strengthened the security of tenure provisions.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Controls (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is now six years rather than four years. If landlords are abusing that, we need to hear about it and the RTB needs to hear about it. For the record-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Controls (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: -----there has been a significant increase in the number of complaints that have come to the RTB since the introduction of the rent pressure zones. As a result of the profile of that debate, I think both landlords and tenants have a better understanding of their own rights. I think that is a good thing.

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I will try to follow Deputy Coppinger by staying within the specified time. The Deputy and I have debated this issue previously. I think we need to take multiple approaches to the provision of social housing. In addition to developing classic social housing projects on public land and actively pursuing Part V, we should use public land more strategically to drive a new approach involving a...

Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: There will always be a dividend and a return for the State. It is up to us to ensure we maximise that dividend, in particular to increase the supply of social housing.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I will name them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have been through some of the programmes. Significant numbers of housing have been brought back into use through repairs. There has been quite a significant acquisition programme in Tipperary. It is true that only six units were completed there.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I can give the Deputy the names of those. There are a further 13 local authority construction schemes in the pipeline which will deliver 129 units when completed, two in Thurles, Cloughjordan, Cashel, Clonmel, Borrisoleigh, Templetuohy, Roscrea, Newport, Carrick-on-Suir and Knockanrawley. I can go through these afterwards with the Deputy if he wants. I accept the impatience to get these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Let me give the Deputy some statistics. On 17 February-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy said there is no money being made available.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I do not care what it is telling him. He should let me give him the facts.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: On 17 February over €4 million was approved for 25 social houses in Knockanrawley. On the same day over €4 million was approved for Mill Road in Thurles; almost €1.5 million in Newport and over €100,000 for Treacy Park in Carrick-on-Suir. On one day, which was only a few days ago, €10 million was made available for schemes that the Deputy says councils...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am not aware of a single scheme in the country that has been refused funding where a local authority has looked for it since I came into office.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Money is available. If there are blockages we need to solve them. That is why we have a housing delivery office-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy said a few minutes ago that funding was the problem. I am telling him it is not.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Controls (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: My immediate response is that it would be a very foolish landlord who started to put up rents significantly in a town like Maynooth because that will guarantee that it will come under the rent pressure zone designations. It would be very counterproductive if the landlords' concern is the ability to increase rent. On 24 January 2017, in accordance with section 24A of the Residential...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: Last Monday, I published a status report for social housing construction projects which lists all approved projects up to the end of 2016, including those at various stages of advancement through planning, design and construction and those delivered in 2016. This report is available on the Department's website, and I encourage people to look at it. The status report includes 16 projects...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (23 Feb 2017)

Simon Coveney: I and my Government colleagues are acutely aware of the challenges faced by households in mortgage arrears and who potentially are at risk of losing their homes. Rebuilding Ireland includes a range of actions that are targeted at assisting borrowers and ensuring that a range of suitable restructuring options is available that ultimately seeks to support borrowers to remain in their homes....