Results 16,921-16,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department is working with the Department of Health and other key stakeholders to develop a policy position that will facilitate the greater use in Ireland of the model of "housing with supports" for older people. This accommodation model provides each person with their own premises and privacy, while facilitating social contact with other older people and in some cases providing homecare...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Refugee Resettlement Programme (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: An operational sub-group under the auspices of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme Taskforce composed of all relevant Departments of State and other bodies, such as representatives of local authorities and the Irish Red Cross, is currently being established to support the process of housing these refugees. This sub-group will be co-chaired by the Department of Justice and Equality and my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Action 3.2 of Rebuilding Ireland provides for the provision of capacity through increased borrowing and access to Housing Finance Agency (HFA) financing for participating local authorities to provide matching funding for the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF). The Housing Finance Agency has agreed to work with local authorities to facilitate access to matching funds....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, published in January 2016, proposes to amend section 33 of the Planning and Development Act to empower the Minister to make regulations to facilitate the on-line submission of planning applications and appeals, including relevant fees, by electronic means (referred to as e-planning) to planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am currently progressing two Bills through the Houses of the Oireachtas proposing significant reforms of the planning system. The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 is primarily intended to give legislative effect to the planning-related recommendations of the Final Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (otherwise known as the Mahon...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Pillar 4 of the Rebuilding Ireland, entitled "Improve the Rental Sector", commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector in Q4 2016. The Strategy, which is on track to be finalised and published by the end of this year, will provide a vision for the development of a stable, strong and viable rental sector offering true choice for households, investment opportunities for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Pillar 4 of Rebuilding Ireland, entitled "Improve the Rental Sector", commits to bringing forward legislation to amend the Residential Tenancies Acts for early enactment. These legislative proposals will be given effect through the Planning and Development (Housing ) and Residential Tenancies Bill. The Bill includes measures to prevent a future recurrence of situations where large numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Standards (15 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: Residential Tenancies Board Remit (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Action 4.4 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to extending the role of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to include a one stop shop for accessible information and advice. My Department is working with the RTB towards the Quarter 1 2017 delivery timescale, including consideration of the appropriate structure/format for the One Stop Shop. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Provision (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Pillar 4 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector in Q4 2016. The strategy will lay out measures to address immediate issues affecting the supply, cost and accessibility of accommodation. There will also be a focus on maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Action 5.1 of the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland commits to develop a National Vacant Housing Re-Use Strategy by Q1 2017. To this end, the Housing Agency, which has lead responsibility for co-ordinating the development of the Strategy, has established a working group to inform the Strategy, with senior representatives from my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002. Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, not yet commenced, provides for the introduction of a national differential rents...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Since the publication of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, I have provided additional support to local authorities by funding an ambitious plan which is tackling the backlog of vacant units that had accumulated. This has resulted in a reduced rate of vacancy reported by some local authorities, including the larger city authorities, of 1-2% of their overall stock. In June 2016 there was an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: In line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government and reaffirmed in Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, I intend to undertake a review of the Incremental (Tenant) Purchase Scheme in January 2017, following the first 12 months of operation. On foot of that review, I will bring forward any changes to the terms and conditions of the scheme which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness recognises the important source of potential accommodation vacant private properties present. The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness this potential, and bring these vacant houses into social housing use to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Care of the Elderly Provision (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Pillar 5 of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is focussed on achieving optimum occupancy of the country’s existing housing stock so as to meet national housing needs in as effective a way as possible. Providing older people with the option of moving to specialist accommodation which is more suited to their needs is one measure which could potentially free up...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 359 together. The Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, sets out the ambitious priority attached to urban regeneration by the Government, incorporating a series of specific actions aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres, many of which have been adversely impacted by our recent economic difficulties. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Action 5.13 of Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to the alignment of the social housing investment programme and ongoing work in resolving unfinished housing developments in order to target opportunities for strategic acquisition and re-development of brownfield development sites, drawing on a further 2016 National Housing Development Survey. The 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (15 Nov 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. My Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities and the number employed in Dublin City Council, on a whole time equivalent basis,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Services Infrastructure (15 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. This includes design, build and operate contracts for both water and wastewater treatment plants as well as any design build contracts. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries...