Results 17,541-17,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Household Means Policy (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Household Means Policy was issued in March 2011 under Regulation 17 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 and defines income for the purposes of determining an applicant’s compliance with the income eligibility criterion for social housing support and applies in all housing authorities. It is a matter for individual authorities to assess a household’s income for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: In line with the suspension of domestic water charges, and to ensure equity of treatment with households on public water supplies, the subsidisation for those on group water schemes has been restored to the level that pertained prior to the introduction of domestic water charges for households connected to the public water supply for the same time period. Details of the revised subsidy rates...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: Irish Water’s capital investment in 2017 will be funded by a mix of debt and equity (including capital transfers from Government). Its investment programme for the period 2017 to 2018 is subject to review by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), and Government funding is subject to budgetary decisions. The CER expects to consult publicly on the level of Irish Water's allowed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: Ballyduff Upper Group Water Scheme was included by Cork County Council in its bid under Measure 3 of the Rural Water Multi-Annual Programme 2016 – 2018 for funding those group water schemes in areas where a public scheme and private wells are not a viable option. However, following examination of all local authorities' proposals under this measure by the Expert Panel convened for this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (16 Sep 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: Animal Welfare (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: The regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and I have no function in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Yield (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is not available in my Department. 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, including non-domestic billing. Prior to this non-domestic water charging and billing was a matter for the relevant local authority. Irish Water has established...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Question refers to Veterinary Ireland’s Policy Document on the Control of Dogs 2016, as ratified by Veterinary Ireland National Council on 25 May 2016. I wish to thank Veterinary Ireland for their comprehensive review of the Control of Dogs legislation and to acknowledge their positive comments in relation to the various legislative enactments in the areas of animal...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: The guidelines governing the Housing Adaptation Grant scheme do not preclude applications from any individual who has not paid their liabilities in respect of water charges. As the Deputy will be aware, the detailed administration of the scheme, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the local authorities. I am not aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: The new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum, have been in receipt of social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: Section 254 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 , as amended, provides for a licensing system for appliances and structures, including street furniture, placed on, above, under or along a public road, including footpaths. The Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, prescribe tables and chairs outside a hotel, restaurant, public house or other establishment where food is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: Details in relation to the membership of State Boards under the aegis of my Department are available on the Department’s website at the following link:. In the case of certain appointments to State Boards, statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Minister or the Government, as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Budget 2017 (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Partnership Government prioritised the housing challenge as a key objective for the Government. The publication in July of Rebuilding Ireland, an Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness reflects the priority being afforded to housing. The Plan provides for €5.35 billion funding over the period of the Plan to support the delivery of 47,000 units of social housing by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Cross-Border Projects (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: While responsibility for the PEACE and INTERREG Programmes is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department provides funding drawn from these programmes to a number of different projects. At the most recent P lenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Dublin Castle in July the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive reiterated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 650 together. I assume the Questions refer to the circa 700 sites in local authority ownership and the sites held by the Housing Agency under the Land Aggregation Scheme, which are referenced on page 50 of Rebuilding Ireland – Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, in the context of the potential for mixed-tenure development on State-owned...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: Planning statistics are submitted by planning authorities on an annual basis and are subsequently collated by my Department. Such statistics include information on the number of planning applications received and the number of applications which were granted or refused permission by each planning authority; however, the detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to permissions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The data gathered do not provide detail in respect of the number of professional and or trained Human Resources within each local authority, and accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: The 4-stage approval process, referred to in the Question, was introduced earlier this year and while there is evidence that the new streamlined arrangements are supporting accelerated delivery, the number of projects that have moved through all 4 stages does not provide a basis for generating a meaningful average at this time. I can advise the Deputy that my Department encourages a pragmatic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Management (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: The functions of Cathaoirlaigh are as provided for under the Local Government Act 2001, as amended. A Cathaoirleach is responsible, inter alia, for the conduct of business and maintenance of order at meetings of the elected council. Major decisions of policy within local authorities rest with the elected members. The elected members, in the exercise of this policy role, operate on a basis...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Applications (16 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: Currently there are 20 local authority capital construction projects for new general social housing developments lodged with my Department for initial approval in principle. The following are the numbers per local authority: Clare County Council 4 projects Cork County Council 1 project Offaly County Council 3 projects Monaghan County Council 1 project Limerick City & County...