Results 1,621-1,640 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Derelict Sites (18 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I wish.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Derelict Sites (18 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Senator Landy for raising this matter, in which I have a deep interest. The Senator is quite correct to bring a focus on derelict sites to the Seanad, as they are a blight on our towns and villages. Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to deal with them. From my own knowledge, having been a member of a local authority for several years, there is nothing worse or more...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Derelict Sites (18 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: It is quite evident from the register that some local authorities are far more proactive in pursuing derelict sites than others. I share Senator Landy's concerns in this regard and will undertake to write to local authorities to bring a new focus on pursuing derelict sites within their areas. Local authorities need to be ambitious for their areas. Voluntary community groups are already...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (18 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Prior to the (S.I. No. 9 of 2014) coming into effect on 1 March 2014, my Department signalled its intention to review their effectiveness following the first twelve months of their operation. This review is now well advanced. The public consultation phase of the review concluded on 15 May 2015. Some 170 submissions have now been received and are currently being considered by my Department....

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility (17 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. There are two mortgage-to-rent schemes in operation through my Department. There is a scheme whereby a local authority can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant. The other scheme provides for an approved housing body,...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility (17 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The operation of the scheme is closely monitored on an ongoing basis by the Department and the Housing Agency which are also in regular contact with approved housing bodies and financial institutions. To date, a total of 2,865 cases have been submitted under the approved housing bodies mortgage-to-rent scheme. Of these, 2,036 were deemed ineligible or terminated during the process. Of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I fully appreciate and acknowledge the extremely difficult and distressing situations that homeowners face when they find that the home in which they have invested may not be completed to the required acceptable standards. However, primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (17 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Local authorities are independent statutory bodies with democratically elected councils and their own management systems and structures and are, accordingly, responsible for their own actions.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (17 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In May 2013, the PRTB launched a national rent index available at . Compiled by the Economic and Social Research Institute and based on the PRTB’s own register of over 300,000 tenancies, this valuable source of information indicates the actual rents being paid for rented properties throughout the State. The rent index is updated quarterly and shows the percentage change in rents over...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Application Numbers (17 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: National tenant purchase schemes have been in place since the early 1970s, enabling local authority tenants the opportunity to purchase their homes. The most recent schemes have been the 1995 Tenant Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses and the 2011 Fixed-Term Tenant Purchase Scheme for long-standing tenants, which closed in June 2014 and June 2013, respectively. There are...

Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Local authorities are included in the provision.

Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I will clarify that matter for the Deputy.

Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: We will be announcing those shortly.

Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Deputy will be welcoming the announcement for Tipperary.

Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: While not wishing to engage in political point-scoring across the House, this is another legacy issue with which this Government has had to deal. These lead pipes have been in existence for generations. Unfortunately, there has been no investigation heretofore of the level now under way, which is a great pity. The matter is now being addressed. I am sure Deputies opposite and all Deputies...

Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Second Stage (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The primary background to this Bill is the housing supply shortage, which is one of the most pressing and important challenges facing society and the Government. This supply shortage is especially acute in Dublin, where demand for housing well outstrips supply and has done for a number of years, with consequential knock-on effects for...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to outline the position on the matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Kelly. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water has been responsible for public water services. Under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulation 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, suppliers of drinking water are required to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Community Policing (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank Senator Noone for tabling this Commencement matter. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, also wishes to thank her and regrets being unable to attend for the debate. However, I am happy to take it on her behalf. Community policing is an important part of policing. Indeed, it is a central feature of current policing policy and members of community policing are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Community Policing (16 Jun 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Senator again. It is a very topical issue. The Minister has considered it but she said that at this time consideration is not being given to keeping on retiring gardaí on a part-time basis as community gardaí. It is important that members who are assigned to community policing units operate on a full-time basis and are fully dedicated to the very important work....