Results 16,741-16,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Library Services Staff (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In 2015 a working group was set up to revise the qualifications for professional and non-professional public library grades. The working group consisted of members of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, County Librarians (also members of the Library Association of Ireland), and senior human resources staff from various local authorities as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Legislative Reviews (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In late 2015, my Department agreed to begin a process of review of the current Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines, with meetings to review the Guidelines commencing last January. The work undertaken to date has been to produce a first draft revision, which is currently under consideration in my Department. I intend to extend the consultation process on the guidelines shortly at which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Administration (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I issued a ‘call for proposals’ under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) in June 2016 and it remains open for applications by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) up to end-November 2016. Proposals should be made by AHBs directly to the local authorities for the areas concerned. I expect to confirm the position in early 2017 regarding the acceptance of further CAS proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is to relieve critical infrastructural blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites and to improve the economic viability of new housing projects in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand for housing. The €200 million Fund will be composed of an Exchequer allocation of €150...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Eligibility (23 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe the procedures for households to apply to housing authorities for social housing support and the conduct and review of social housing assessments. The income threshold is the basic measure of whether a household is eligible in the first instance for social housing support. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for...

Local Government Reform (Amendment) (Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Make sure there is no general election in the meantime.

Local Government Reform (Amendment) (Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Lahart in particular, who had the courtesy to contact me before introducing the legislation to the Dáil. He has already engaged in a very genuine way in trying to ensure this actually happens, rather than simply having a political debate on it. To be fair, Deputy Ryan is in the same class. From my perspective, we will do something significant in this area. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The operation of the motor tax system is kept under regular review. Under existing arrangements, motor tax is payable in person or by post through motor tax offices in twenty six local authorities. It is also payable online at any time, with the level of online usage increasing from 42% of all motor tax transactions in 2010 to just under 70% to date in 2016. I am aware that An Post is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240, 241 and 243 together. In December 2013, my Department published proposed draft revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed: - the setting of a more stringent day- and night-time noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments, - a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rural Resettlement Scheme (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Rural Resettlement Ireland were advised on receipt of their grant in 2012 that, given resource constraints, it was unlikely my Department would be in a position to provide funding to them under Grant in Aid in 2013 or beyond. That position remains unchanged. I refer to the reply to Question No. 149 of 16 November 2016 which sets out the position more generally, including in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: At present, the full HAP scheme is only available to all qualifying households in one of the four Dublin local authorities, South Dublin County Council. The full roll-out of the scheme will be completed by 1 March 2017, with the introduction of HAP to the administrative areas of Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal County Councils. A multi-agency HAP Implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 248 together. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority are responsible for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that Dublin City Council is funding the pyrite remediation works at this location from its own resources. I also understand that a number of tenants have raised concerns with Dublin City Council in relation to the works and the Council has agreed to meet with each of its tenants to discuss their issues.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Elections (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides for the division of each county, city or city and county into local electoral areas. As set out in the reply to Question No. 183 of 2 November 2016, the most recent review of local electoral areas was carried out from November 2012 to May 2013 by a Local Electoral Area Boundary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Action 4.6 of Rebuilding Irelandprovides for the introduction of a new pilot affordable rental scheme to enhance the capacity of the private rented sector to provide quality and affordable accommodation for households currently paying a disproportionate amount of disposable income on rent. The objective of the scheme is to provide long-term affordable residential accommodation for low to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the phased and sequential development of the overall Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) is set out in the Planning Scheme approved by An Bord Pleanála. Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, will apply to each individual application or applications for permission for housing in the Cherrywood SDZ by a variety of landowners...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Social Housing Strategy 2020provided for an investment with a capital value of €300 million in social housing through the public private partnership or PPP model. In total, the programme is expected to deliver 1,500 social housing units. The delivery of social housing through PPP is part of the plan to accelerate the supply of social housing, which is the second pillar of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: All local authorities have active programmes of new social housing construction through standard construction approaches. This includes those authorities who are also undertaking rapid build social housing programmes. Since the launch of the Social Housing Strategy, and continuing with the increased targets announced under Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (22 Nov 2016)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (22 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) was the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. LCDP was implemented by Local Development Companies until 31 March 2015 when it was replaced by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), which was rolled out across communities following a procurement process. My...