Results 17,641-17,660 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to the Government motion. Not to appeal the European Commission's ruling on the Apple state aid case would fundamentally undermine the credibility of the Revenue Commissioners and be an acceptance of the serious and flawed overreach by the European Commission in its attempt to change tax policy retrospectively through a state aid ruling. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Funding (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The funding application from the group referred to in the details supplied is in respect of the construction of 4 new social housing units under the Capital Assistance Scheme. Revised designs for this project proposal were recently received and my Department is currently reviewing these and will be in further contact with the group in question shortly .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produces an annual “Report on Bathing Water Quality”. The 2015 report shows that Ireland’s bathing waters are among the best in northern Europe, with 93.4% meeting EU minimum standards and 74% attaining “excellent” status. The report also identifies several bathing waters adjacent to urban areas, particularly in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: There are currently two Mortgage to Rent (MTR) schemes funded by my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority (LA) can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (LAMTR ). The other scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to acquire ownership of a property...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 280 together. Ireland, along with other Developed Countries, committed in 2009 to mobilising US $100 billion annually by 2020 in International Climate Finance for Developing Countries to come from a variety of sources, both public and private. Despite our recent difficult economic circumstances and the current constraints that apply in this...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 278 together. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Noise Pollution Legislation (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Private Security Authority (PSA), under the aegis of the Department of Justice and Equality, is responsible for the licensing, control and supervision of all installers of security equipment. The PSA has powers to maintain and improve standards in the provision of services, including standards for intruder alarms. As of 1 August 2006, alarm installers cannot legally operate without a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Management (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Local Authorities are independent bodies with their own elected representatives and are responsible for deciding on their own internal organisation of responsibilities. Questions in relation to the organisation of any particular local authority should be directed to the local authority concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Details in respect of the percentage of working days lost to sickness through certified and uncertified leave in each year from 2011 to 2015 in my Department are set out in the Table below. Year Percentage of Working Days Lost to Sickness Absence 2011 3.58 2012 3.17 2013 3.79 2014 3.14 2015 3.29

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together. The Social Housing Strategy 2020 – Support, Supply and Reform, published in November 2014, included a commitment to undertake summaries of social housing assessments on an annual basis from 2016. Arrangements to carry out the 2016 summary, which will provide updated figures of national housing need later this year, are well...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Oversight and Audit Commission (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 gave legislative effect to proposals set out in Putting People First: An (2012)for a range of reforms designed to strengthen local government, including its structures, functions, funding, operational arrangements and governance. The reforms included the establishment of a National Oversight and Audit...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Management Agency (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA ) is primarily funded through local authorities. It does not receive a standing Exchequer subvention towards its administrative costs. A detailed breakdown of the annual income and expenditure for the LGMA is contained in its Annual Report and Accounts for 2014, which is the most recently available – this can be viewed at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Services (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The provision of playgrounds by local authorities is a matter solely for each local authority and is one in which my Department has no role. Accordingly, my Department has not allocated any funding to local authorities for the provision of playground facilities over the period 2011 to 2016. Ultimately, it is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table: Local Authority 2015 Sick Leave Authority Percentage of Paid Working Days Lost to Medically Certified Sickness Absence Percentage of Paid Working Days Lost to Self-Certified Sickness Absence Carlow County Council 3.96 0.38 Cavan County Council 2.43 0.19 Clare County Council 3.63 0.25 Cork City...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Data (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: While my Department does not collect this type of information at a local authority level, general information on percentages of waste disposed of by landfilling nationally may be obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency website at the following link: . The latest figures available indicate that Ireland remains on track to achieve the mid-July 2016 target of reducing its...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Statistics on the average re-letting times for local authority social housing are set out in the report of the National Oversight and Audit Commission on Performance Indicators inLocal Authorities, the last published report being for 2014, which is available at the following link: . This does not capture information on the average refurbishment time taken by local authorities. Feedback from...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (21 Jul 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 Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Question No. 520 of 2 February 2016, which sets out details of motor tax receipts for 2015. Receipts to the end of June 2016 (including online receipts) are set out in the following table: 2016 (to end June) Licensing Authority (€) Carlow 8,094,793 Cavan 8,873,286 Clare 15,009,570 Cork 67,589,909 Donegal 17,838,018 Dublin City 144,161,527 ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Yield (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Rates income data are published by local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Pollution (21 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuel (or ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known) was first introduced in Dublin in 1990 in response to severe episodes of winter smog that resulted from the widespread use of smoky coal for residential heating. In August 2012, following a public consultation process, new solid fuel regulations were introduced with...