Results 16,861-16,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 158 together. I have previously acknowledged the good start made on social housing delivery in 2015 with 13,000 households’ needs met, but my ambition is that the delivery of homes under each of the social housing programmes will be accelerated and that the target of 17,000 units for 2016 will be fully achieved. More broadly, the...

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

Simon Coveney: The Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housingpublished by my Department in April 2005 set out the national policy framework for planning authorities in drawing up their statutory development plans in relation to the issue of housing in rural areas, taking into account local circumstances and the type of area involved, including areas adjacent to large cities and towns...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153, 154 and 156 together. 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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department does not hold information on the allocation of social housing supports to households on the waiting list. The allocation of such support is a matter for each housing authority in accordance with its allocation scheme made under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

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

Simon Coveney: The key aim of the rapid build housing programme is to fast-track the delivery of much needed homes, particularly for homeless families. Under the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a total of 1,500 rapid-build units will be delivered by 2018. My Department is currently working closely with the four Dublin local authorities in relation to the rapid delivery...

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

Simon Coveney: The lack of a sufficient supply of homes to meet demand has led to the current pressures in the housing market, making it difficult for first-time and other buyers to access housing at affordable levels. The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness outlines the Government’s commitment to develop a fully functioning housing market that meets the housing needs of...

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

Simon Coveney: 'My Open Library' is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the national public library strategy 2013-2017 and is part of a strategy to address customer demand. To this end, 'My Open Library' allows library members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at times that suit them. It provides additional opening hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days-per-week, ensuring access to...

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

Simon Coveney: To support the implementation of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, I have secured €5.35 billion in exchequer investment to deliver 47,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period 2016 to 2021. This €5.35 billion investment comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million...

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

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

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

Simon Coveney: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (17 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 €200m Fund will be composed of an Exchequer allocation of €150 million,...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. The role of the Cork expert advisory group is to review the recommendations of the Cork Local Government Committee report. The group is tasked with examining both the majority and minority reports and underlying material and has a mandate to identify and examine a wider range of options for Cork than might have been considered...

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

Simon Coveney: Implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness is being advanced across a number of departments and agencies, under the oversight of the Cabinet Committee on Housing, chaired by An Taoiseach, and there is a clear commitment to reporting progress, particularly through quarterly progress reports. The first quarterly progress report, which is in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (17 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Retirement benefits payable to staff of agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter primarily for the agencies themselves, under their approved superannuation schemes. On the basis that "top-ups" refers to superannuation payments beyond contractual entitlements, no such payments were approved by my Department in the period in question.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 in the Seanad. I thank Members for facilitating the debate on this important Bill and the commitment I understand they have made to try to take Committee and Report Stages next week. The timeline for the legislation is important as we are anxious to complete it before...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: There are 27,000 planning permissions, rather than applications.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: They can do so.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: It will not.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: No. I will answer.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Many questions have been asked and I will try to deal with as many as I can. If I miss any please feel free to contact me before next week. A number of themes came through. I am a little uncomfortable with the terminology "fast track planning" because it suggests it is being rushed and it is not. We are speaking about putting in place a properly resourced process whereby there is...