Results 17,681-17,700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Housing (Sale of Local Authority Housing) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Has Deputy Broughan read the strategy?

Housing (Sale of Local Authority Housing) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following:“the Bill be deemed to be read a Second Time on 31 March 2017, to allow for—(a) the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme to be reviewed after one year in operation, in line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The review will commence in January 2017...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Seanad for allowing the timely passage of this legislation before the summer recess. We all know the background to this legislation.What I and the Government are trying to do is to create a space and a window of opportunity for a discussion, the input of experts and recommendations to come through an expert commission to an Oireachtas committee. That can then allow us, in nine...

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: How much time do I have?

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is good to see the new Members of the House. I ask Senator Lawless to pass on my good wishes to Billy Jnr. when he sees him.

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am particularly pleased to speak in the Seanad on "Rebuilding Ireland", which we launched yesterday. It is the Government's new action plan for housing and homelessness. This is a very significant effort by the Government to start a process by which, in time, it will fix a broken property market and respond more effectively to the needs of very vulnerable people who find themselves...

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Some Members seem to have been taken by surprise that we were starting so early, so I was just giving them some time. The final pillar of the plan relates to using vacant properties more effectively. There are approximately 200,000 vacant properties in Ireland. Most of them are in areas where there is not a great deal of demand for housing but some of are in areas where there is a demand....

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is an issue.

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: We are addressing that.

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Senator, one cannot do everything in 70 days.

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am conscious of the fact that I spoke for approximately 35 minutes earlier; I will, therefore, be brief.

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I could repeat what I said, if the Senator wishes, although perhaps not for a full 35 minutes. I will try to answer some of the questions asked. There are elements of the programme which relate to victims of domestic violence, but if the Senator has further suggestions to make, I would like to hear them. Regarding disability issues, I accept the points the Senator made. In this document...

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Some people will accuse me of making public land available for free to private developers. We are not doing this. We are setting up a partnership to deliver mixed tenure communities. It involves private sector input, as well as local authority or approved housing body input, in order that we can have private houses next to social houses, affordable houses, affordable rental accommodation,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The approved housing body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme is a Government initiative offered as a support to householders who find themselves unable to continue with their mortgage commitments. It was developed as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the Keane Report in 2011 and is one part of a concerted effort across the whole of Government to tackle the mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The site in question, at Glin, County Limerick, was accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme in 2011. Under that Scheme, the Housing Agency is responsible for engaging with local authorities, and approved housing bodies, regarding the appropriate development of the lands, prior to seeking the necessary approval from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Data (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 to 192, inclusive, together. My Department did not conduct research on the environmental cost of the domestic metering programme. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Section 1(2)(b) of the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act, 1952 provides a vehicle licence may be taken out for such periods of the year and on payment of such rates of duty as the Minister may by regulation prescribe. The rates for licences of less than a year shall be no less than the proportion that the licence bears to a full year and, in the case of quarterly licences, the duty...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal Charges (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: In an open market, it is a matter for a waste collector to set charges at the level they consider to be competitive, in compliance with the requirements of environmental and other applicable legislation. However, since the waste industry began releasing its proposed prices under pay-by-weight last month, the Government relayed its concern to the industry regarding the reported escalation of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The current programme to support local authorities to return vacant social housing units to productive use commenced in 2014 and in that year and in 2015, my Department provided €60 million to support local authorities in returning over 5,000 vacant units to productive use. The programme for 2016 will see in excess of €24 million being provided for the remediation of a further...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (20 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The table available at the link below sets out the number of units acquired by local authorities in 2014, under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, based on returns made to my Department. The 2015 data are being finalised and will be placed on my Department’s website shortly, while information in relation to 2016 will be available next year. . My Department provided...