Results 16,501-16,520 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: To ensure effective targeting of limited resources, local authority house purchase loan finance continues to be available to first time buyers only. The Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 are kept under ongoing review. There are no plans, at this time, to alter the Regulations in this regard. The option currently available for non-first time buyers is to seek home loan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Remuneration (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In early 2010, my Department sought to standardise arrangements for the Head of Health and Safety post across the local government sector. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: International Conventions (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: As with all legislation, my Department has worked in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General in the preparation and drafting of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016. In this regard, my Department has obtained legal advice from the Attorney General to that effect that the proposed arrangements relating to the strategic housing development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Remuneration (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 (FEMPI) introduced the pension related deduction (PRD) for public servants. Local authorities deduct PRD from the salaries of their employees and to date have retained the amounts collected as part of their income, using this income to help fund the services they provide. This approach was adopted by agreement in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: As outlined in the reply to Question No. 77 of 17 November 2016, the Urban Renewal Working Group has been established to identify a series of specific actions as early as possible, aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres, many of which have been adversely impacted by our recent economic difficulties. It is intended that the new measures will complement the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. Details of compensation amounts and insurance claims paid by local authorities are matters for individual local authorities. The information requested is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Data (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 195 and 198 together. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Provision was made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 for a new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses. Following the necessary preparatory work the new 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Electoral Commission Administration (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The review referred to is one of 4 boundary reviews which were initiated together. The report of the Athlone Boundary Committee was submitted on 10 November and subsequently published. The chairpersons of the committees which are reviewing the boundaries at Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford have indicated that these reports will be submitted in the coming weeks. I will be considering all the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: National Spatial Strategy (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The current National Spatial Strategy (NSS) was published in 2002 and was Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework, setting an overarching planning framework. The Strategy remains in force and as a result of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, its statutory role and influence has been strengthened by new requirements for local authority and regional plans...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Services Expenditure (6 Dec 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services Funding (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: ‘My Open Library’ is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the national public library strategy 2013-20 17 and is part of a strategy to address customer demand. It allows library members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at times that suit them. It provides additional opening hours from 8am to 10pm, seven days-per-week, ensuring access to library services for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Local authorities are required by legislation 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 Acts 2001 to 2015. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property determined by the Valuation Office to obtain...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment Programme, 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 houses/apartments. Details on properties purchased by local authorities for letting to those on their social housing waiting list are available on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services Staff (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The ‘My Open Library’ service is an initiative under Opportunities for All , the national public library strategy 2013-2017. It forms part of the overall strategy to address customer demand and grants members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at the hours that suit them best. The initial ‘My Open Library’ pilot was introduced in Tullamore,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. Under my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment Programme, 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 houses/apartments. Details on properties purchased by local authorities for letting to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Data (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. My Department does not fund any service directly but provides funding to lead housing authorities on a regional basis. Statutory responsibility in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Data (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 to 210, inclusive, together. The official homelessness data reports provided by housing authorities are produced using the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS), the single integrated national data information system on State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements overseen by housing authorities. These reports are published on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (6 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I informed Commissioner Vella by letter on 25th November last of my recent announcement that Ireland is beginning a process which will lead to a legislative ban on all products which contain microbeads in 2017. I subsequently forwarded a copy of my letter to Senator Grace O’Sullivan, who had tabled legislation on the issue in the Seanad. The proposed legislative ban will be part of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (6 Dec 2016)

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