Results 17,881-17,900 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget and authorising borrowing, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. As such, it is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together. Section 12 of the Water Services Act 2014 states that public water services property is not rateable for the purposes of the Valuation Act 2001. This exemption applies to Irish Water for the provision of water supply and waste water treatment. Government subvention is not paid directly to Irish Water to fund this cost; instead, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Drawing on the Report of the Special Committee on Housing and Homelessness, which was published on 17 June 2016, the “Action Plan for Housing” is currently being drafted in my Department, with input from key Government Departments and Agencies, and other stakeholders working in the housing and homelessness sector. I have made the development and implementation of this...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, my Department does not fund homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the costs of homeless accommodation and services. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1993 provide that the recoupment to housing authorities by my Department under section 10 arrangements shall not exceed 90% of such...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Staff (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Fire services are provided by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. Under section 10 of the 1981 Act, a fire authority is required to make provision for the delivery of fire services in its functional area, including the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises. In relation to the staffing requirements in each local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Pre-financing applies in the case of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in my Department. SICAP rolled out in April 2015 and will run until 31 December 2017. It is the successor programme to the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP). Its aim is to tackle poverty, social exclusion and long-term unemployment through local engagement and partnership...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Recruitment (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I have no function as regards the number of local authority staff employed as litter wardens. This is a matter for individual local authorities to decide, taking into account their specific priorities and circumstances. Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997-2009, a local authority may confer authorised status on a member of their staff to act as a litter warden by making such an authorisation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. It is now available to all qualified households in 19 local authority areas with over 11,000 households supported since the scheme commenced. At this point HAP is only available to all qualifying households in one of the four Dublin local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Services (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that, as soon as possible following a request by the developer or by the majority of the houseowners, a planning authority must initiate procedures to take in charge a residential housing estate completed to its satisfaction in accordance with the planning permission. Section 180 also provides that, following a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Recruitment (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The filling of positions within the local government sector is subject to sanction by my Department. Following the issue of sanction from my Department, the recruitment of staff is a matter for the Chief Executive of each local authority but must be carried out in line with appropriate Departmental Circulars, legislation and collective agreements. Vacant local authority posts are filled...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The persons responsible for the housing budgets in local authorities are the Chief Executive and the Directors of Services for Housing. Details of the housing budget for Cork City Council are available at the following link: and, for Cork County Council, at Budget 2016-Cork County Council - Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I attach below a table containing the information requested in respect of the agencies under the aegis of my Department. Appointments to An Bord Pleanála, the Environmental Protection Agency, Gas Networks Ireland and to the Board of Irish Water are of a full-time executive nature and are governed by statutory processes. Agency / Body Minimum number of members Maximum number of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Expenditure (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Information on expenditure by my Department under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, from 2011 to 2015, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:. The funding allocation of €56.25 million in 2016 for the grants represents an increase of some 10% in funding over the 2015 allocation and comprises €45 million...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The basis for the means assessment for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability was most recently reviewed in 2013 and the level of income beyond which no grant is payable was set at €60,000. The review also introduced the arrangement whereby all household members’ income, with certain exceptions, is included in the assessment of means. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commission on Water Charges (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: In considering members for the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services, a public invitation for nominees was issued through my Department's website and consideration was also given to other suitable candidates meeting the specific skill sets required. Specific professional expertise in funding and financing of large scale infrastructure investment and maintenance programmes;...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) was the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State and was implemented until 31 March 2015. The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the successor programme to the LCDP, was rolled out across communities on 1 April 2015, following a procurement process. SICAP is overseen and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Search and Rescue Service Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is no funding available in my Department for the type of initiative referred to. Responsibility for maritime issues, including the provision of an effective emergency response service, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s role is in relation to homelessness and involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Levies (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is a serious problem with waste tyres in Ireland. In discussions prior to the adoption of the 2007 Tyre Regulations, it was made clear that this was the last opportunity for the tyre industry to embrace environmental compliance and take responsibility for the waste it produces. If the required improvement did not happen, it was made clear to the tyre industry that the system would be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Funding for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability has been increased in 2016 by some 10%, to an overall funding availability of €56.25m. Some 7,600 households benefitted under this Scheme in 2015 and with the additional funding, this should increase to 8,000 in 2016. I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from this Scheme in terms of...