Results 16,001-16,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following:Dáil Éireann, while recognising the acute pressures that tenants are under and the importance of strengthening security for tenants, and to move towards longer term tenancies, declines to give the Anti-Evictions Bill 2016 a second reading for the following reasons:(a) the proposals in...

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: That is the legal advice.

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is not.

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is now six years.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Quality (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Pursuant to the European Union (Water Policy) Regulations 2014, I am responsible for the making of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) in accordance with Article 13 of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy). That Directive establishes a common framework for the protection of inland...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Nitrates Usage (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014, as amended, give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Government Fund (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The audited accounts of the Local Government Fund, with a breakdown of all income and expenditure for the years 2003 – 2015, are available on my Department's website at the following link: An estimate of the income and expenditure of the Local Government Fund for the years 2016 and 2017 is available in the published Revised Estimates for Public Services 2017(page 174), which is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: In order to qualify for the commercial rate of motor tax, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted for use as a goods vehicle and used solely for the carrying of goods in the course of trade or business. In the case of an adapted vehicle, the vehicle must meet the criteria currently in place for conversion from a passenger vehicle to a goods vehicle. The conveyance of persons other than...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, any person or body may, within the requisite period and on payment of the appropriate fee, make a submission or observations to An Bord Pleanála in respect of an application for permission for a proposed strategic infrastructure development (SID). I...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Data (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: More than 16,500 households are currently having their housing needs met through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, which has now been rolled out to all categories of households in 28 local authority areas. The Dublin Region Homelessness Executive (DRHE) is also managing a HAP Homeless Pilot for the four Dublin local authorities. 12,075 HAP tenancies were set-up in 2016 meeting the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 508 together. The provision of public library services is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. This includes the procurement of books and other library related services. My Department has no direct role in these matters. However, a national tender for book stock...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 458 and 522 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The current standard variable interest rate charged to local authority borrowers, applicable since 1 July 2016, is 2.3% which is circa 1.5% below the average variable mortgage rate charged by commercial lenders, delivering interest savings of approximately €1,500 per annum on a mortgage of €100,000. The rate charged by local authorities is arrived at taking into account...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department, together with the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and local authorities, has considered the affordability issues facing some borrowers who purchased properties under the Shared Ownership (SO) schemes and devised a more affordable long-term path towards full home ownership. A range of measures have already been taken to reduce the monthly repayments of these...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Children's Rights (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the Ninth Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection submitted to the Oireachtas on November 18th 2016. In relation to housing, the Special Rapporteur refers to the work of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which reviewed Ireland's compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights during 2015. In their report,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (17 Jan 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 pursuant to the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Commercial rates form an important element...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (17 Jan 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 Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Rates income data are published by local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant housing authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. In order to qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing list, an applicant must be assessed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: This is a case of an unauthorised development which is the subject of court proceedings. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.