Results 16,021-16,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: Up to 31 December 2016, a total of 3,575 cases have been submitted under the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme, which was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions. Of these, 2,723 were ineligible or terminated during the process, 217 have been completed with 635 being actively progressed. The reasons why a case has not progressed are varied and can depend on...

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

Simon Coveney: The Convention on the Constitution, in its Fifth Report, recommended that voting rights be extended in presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State. The Government considered the Convention report in February 2015 and decided that it would be necessary to analyse the full range of legal, practical and policy issues arising before any decision could be made on the...

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

Simon Coveney: Part 8 of the Local Government Act 2001 has not been commenced and was repealed by the Local Government Reform Act 2014. The legislation governing local authority boundary alterations is set out in Part V of the Local Government Act 1991.

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

Simon Coveney: The information requested is not available in my Department. Electoral law provides that it is a matter for the returning officer in the relevant constituency to give public notice of his or her decision to take the poll on an island in advance of the polling day appointed by the Minister.

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

Simon Coveney: It is not clear what specific projects the Deputy is referring to in the Question. However, in general, under my Department's Social Housing Capital Investment and Social Housing Current Expenditure Programmes, funding is provided to local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471, 496 and 524 together. The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant properties across Ireland. The scheme was launched in Waterford and Carlow in early October 2016, on a pilot basis,...

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

Simon Coveney: Under the provisions of section 25 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986, the District Court may act on a complaint by any person where a nuisance has been created by excessive barking by a dog. A copy of the form used for complaints to the Courts regarding barking is available from local authorities. The Court may make an order, requiring the occupier of the premises in which the dog is kept to...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department has no function in relation to requesting a report of audits of the type described by the Deputy and which furthermore are not specifically required by the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). As the Deputy will be aware, the provisions of the Act, both in relation to the preparation of statutory development plans and local area plans, oblige...

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

Simon Coveney: I understand the Deputy is referring to a recent determination by An Bord Pleanála in relation to a particular case (reference number RL3490) that the exclusive use of a residential apartment for short-term holiday lettings is considered to be development under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and is not exempted development. The effect of the Board's determination is...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 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. Contracts entered into by Irish Water are a 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: Private Rented Accommodation (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: On 13 December 2016, the Government approved the publication of a Strategy for the Rental Sector, which delivers on a commitment made under Rebuilding Ireland. The strategy is structured around 4 key areas: security, standards, supply and services. The overarching objective of the strategy is to increase security and supply and support the development of a stable, strong and viable rental...

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

Simon Coveney: The prescribed application form for social housing support is available from housing authorities in Irish and English, and in accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003, housing authorities are required to ensure the provision of services through Irish. The issue of communicating with applicants whose first language is not English, or Irish, is a matter for individual housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (17 Jan 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. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing...

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

Simon Coveney: I have no function in relation to the operation by local authorities of the Part 8 approval process for development which they themselves propose to undertake. I understand that Sligo County Council has completed the Part 8 process in relation to the case referred to.

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

Simon Coveney: Under the terms of the various funding schemes supporting the delivery of social housing by approved housing bodies (AHBs), AHBs are the de factoowners of the properties concerned and are required to make them available for social renting for the duration of the mortgage or, as the case may be, the availability agreement. My Department cannot unilaterally make provision for their sale to...

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

Simon Coveney: I was very pleased to have been in a position to announce Stage 1 funding approval of €17,859,976 for Dublin City Council to progress the delivery of 56 Social Housing dwellings at the former O'Devaney Gardens. These dwellings benefit from an existing approval under the Planning Acts for 110 social and affordable units on a portion of the site. This is the first phase of a...

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

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department's role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Funding (17 Jan 2017)

Simon Coveney: The information sought is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

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

Simon Coveney: Lead responsibility for the maintenance of sustainable communities on the off-shore islands rests with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, whose Department works with other bodies, including my Department, in meeting its objectives in this area. The overall strategic objective of Government housing policy is to enable all households to access good quality...

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

Simon Coveney: An Expert Group was established recently to carry out further detailed examination and planning arising from the report of the Galway Local Government Committee in relation to future local government arrangements in Galway. That report recommended the establishment of such a Group to undertake a detailed technical review by way of follow up to its proposals. The Group has been asked to...