Results 16,841-16,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Provision (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, on a regional basis. The four Dublin housing authorities have agreed that Dublin City Council acts as the lead local authority with regard to the provision and oversight of homeless services in the Dublin Region and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive carries out these...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In May 2015, the first major direct build social housing programme for some years was announced with over 100 separate housing projects. This was followed up by further approvals and announcements in July 2015 and January 2016. These three major announcements saw almost €680 million allocated for over 3,900 new social housing units, mainly via new construction projects and also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: 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 mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Total funding of €933 million has been made available in 2016 for the provision of housing. This includes a capital provision of €180.12 million to support the provision of local authority housing through a programme of construction and acquisitions. To date in 2016, €137 million has been expended under the local authority programme, representing 76% of the 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pension Levy (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In 2008, retained fire-fighters were given the option of joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS) and receive a pension and retirement lump sum based on their pensionable remuneration and length of service. Retained fire-fighters who opted not to join the scheme receive, on retirement, a gratuity of 1/8th of the annual retainer multiplied by the number of years of actual...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the issue of direct provision is a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. My Department has, however, been working closely with that Department on housing issues arising in the context of refugees. An operational sub-group under the auspices of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme Taskforce, composed of all relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department is liaising on an ongoing basis with the various local authorities, including Kildare County Council and the other councils in the greater Dublin area, in relation to progress in delivering on the targets identified in Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. There is already a strong pipeline of new social housing delivery projects in place nationally,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Data (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a key Government priority and the accelerated roll-out of the scheme on a national basis is an important early action for completion in Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. HAP is now available to all qualified households in 19 local authority areas, with over 14,900 households currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Athlone Boundary Committee, which was established in June 2015, was tasked with carrying out a review of the boundary between County Westmeath and County Roscommon and to make recommendations it considers necessary in the interests of effective and convenient local government. No boundary change was proposed on the establishment of the committee. The report of the committee was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The management and maintenance of the social housing stock in County Donegal is a matter for the Council in the first instance, as housing authority for the area. My Department provides funding to the authority through a range of programmes for the development and acquisition of new social housing and to upgrade existing stock. It is a matter for the Council to identify issues and remedies...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board Data (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. I have no function in relation to the operational matters of the Board. However, the information concerned could be sought from the RTB. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The main purpose of the recently published Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 is to give early effect to a number of priority legislative commitments in the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, including those relating to Pillar 3 which is about building more homes and making the planning permitting and approvals...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (17 Nov 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. In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Animal Breeding Regulations (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010. Each local authority must maintain for public inspection a register of dog breeding establishments in its functional area, which must include the name and address of the applicant seeking entry onto the register, the address of the dog breeding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their scheme of letting priorities. My Department does not gather or hold any information on households seeking a transfer to an alternative social housing support whether they are currently having their housing needs met through HAP, RAS and or any other form of social housing support....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rent Controls (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Pillar 4 of the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector in Q4 2016. My Department has just completed a public consultation process in relation to the strategy and has received a number of submissions from a wide range of stakeholders, which will contribute to shaping the final strategy. The number of emails...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Standards (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am committed to developing a real and meaningful strategy for the rental sector to enable it to develop to its full potential. Ensuring quality accommodation standards in the sector is an integral part of this process. Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Irish Water (17 Nov 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: Vacant Sites Levy (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced the vacant site levy measure, aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under - utilised sites in urban areas. Under the provisions of the Act, with effect from 2019, a levy will be charged on the registered owners of vacant sites in designated areas in local development plans and local area plans as being in need of, and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Development Contributions (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The development contribution rebate scheme was one of a number of measures included in the housing package, Stabilising Rents, Boosting Supply, which was announced by the previous Government in November 2015. The aim of the scheme is to enhance the viability of construction and sale of residential housing units at affordable prices in the locations of greatest need. The scheme was...