Results 17,101-17,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Data (20 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. The Government, on 18 October 2016, considered the shortfall in domestic revenue to Irish Water arising from the suspension of domestic water charges in the period to 31 March 2017. In relation to the 2016 shortfall of €181m, the Government decided that this will be met by a combination of: additional subvention, funded by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Expenditure (20 Oct 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 the domestic water metering programme. The domestic metering contracts, awarded in 2013, had the objective of installing 1,050,000 domestic meters over a 3 year programme, which started in August of that year,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Public Relations Contracts Data (20 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not engaged any outside public relations companies since I became Minister nor has it sought permission to do so.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: I hope Deputy Dooley will be open to supporting charging in principle.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: We are not undermining it.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is pretty accurate.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to respond on this issue again. As he said, we will have an opportunity to discuss it next Thursday when we will meet to discuss these issues. I want to put on record a number of points. Nobody disputes that the financial challenges Sligo County Council faces are significant. That is the reason there is a financial plan in place to help Sligo County...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: We have already reviewed them in the context of the flexibility we have shown, but it is important to put on the record that Sligo County Council had been incurring revenue deficits for the years 2008 to 2014 resulting in a situation where the cumulative deficit now stands at just under €26 million, and long-term debt is in excess of €103 million. It is not a sustainable...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: The management in Cork county and Cork city have to manage their own affairs.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: They manage their own affairs. The responsibility to manage the financial affairs of local government is primarily with the executive team in each local authority and last December there was an agreement. The Deputy does not want to accept that but there was an agreement between the local authority and my Department in terms of a pathway back to financial sustainability for Sligo.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: It was not prescribed. It was signed off-----

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should stop grandstanding.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: What we have done is sat down on multiple occasions. The financial comptrollers in my Department have been negotiating with and talking to those in Sligo. That is where this needs to be resolved rather than the political grandstanding we are seeing.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is not talking facts. It is just like the last time.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: The position is that we are working through what is a difficult situation. Sligo County Council is an exception to virtually all other counties. There is a financial plan in place for Donegal as well but outside of that, no other county is getting an extra €1 million to help it get out of a difficult financial hole.

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is a joke.

Seanad: Fire Safety in Traveller Accommodation: Statements (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am grateful for the invitation to come to the Upper House to contribute on such an important issue. I thank Senators for giving me the opportunity to hear statements and take questions.I understand I will have an opportunity to sum up at the end of the debate and to respond to some of the issues raised. On 21 September 2016, my Department published the Report on Programme to Review and...

Seanad: Fire Safety in Traveller Accommodation: Statements (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: Can I give a minute away?

Seanad: Fire Safety in Traveller Accommodation: Statements (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: Clearly, I will not have an opportunity to reply to all questions. As such, I want to pick up on one or two themes. I thank Senator Colette Kelleher for a very impassioned speech today. I have known Senator Kelleher for a long time and have rarely heard her speak as she did today. As such, I am certainly taking on board what she has said. I will also comment on Senator Mac Lochlainn's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Question No. 278 of 18 October 2016 which sets out the position in this matter.