Results 17,921-17,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licence Applications (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The responsibilities of my Department in relation to the administration of the Foreshore Act are regulatory in character. The core responsibilities include the regulation and administration of the foreshore through a system of leasing and licensing. There has been a substantial increase in both the volume of foreshore consent applications and the complexity of these applications,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Data (12 Jul 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 Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: There have been no agency or locum staff hired by my Department in the years in question.

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

Simon Coveney: My Department’s website, www.environ.ie, has recently been redesigned and was re-launched on 22 February 2016. As part of the redesign and re-engineering process, a strong emphasis was placed on the key areas of usability and accessibility. In line with best practice, Universal Design principles were applied across the project with the aim of ensuring consistent compliance with...

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: That is not the off balance sheet model.

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is not.

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Who is stigmatising? Who said that? Deputy Coppinger is the only person raising that language.

Report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputies for affording us the opportunity to discuss the report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness and, perhaps more importantly, to debate in this House how we can all work towards addressing the many issues regarding homelessness. I will also use the opportunity to set out the Government's priorities and intentions for the forthcoming action plan on housing. I...

Topical Issue Debate: Foreshore Licence Applications (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: 8 o’clock It is important to say to the Deputy that I am not the applicant. An applicant for a foreshore licence has the responsibility to ensure that proper public consultation takes place and that if meetings are appropriate, they also take place. I am the person who has to make a decision on the application so I cannot become involved in determining what is and is not...

Topical Issue Debate: Foreshore Licence Applications (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I was in Galway on Friday, where this issue was raised with me. In March 2006, the Marine Institute was granted a foreshore lease for a period of ten years for the purpose of developing and operating a national quarter-scale test facility in Galway Bay, which I went out to see by boat, for the testing of wave energy devices in accordance with plans and drawings submitted at that time. That...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (7 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 Acts 2001-2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The principle of local authorities levying...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the making and varying of a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority for the area. My Department’s Circular Letter of October 2012 to all planning authorities sets out their statutory obligations under Section 7 of the Planning and Development...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The standard annuity mortgage available from local authorities is targeted at lower income first time buyers. The relevant terms and conditions applying to local authority housing loans are set out in the following regulations – the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 – available at: . To support local authorities in operating their housing loan schemes in a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal Charges (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Pay-by-weight charging has the potential to radically change our thinking and behaviour in relation to waste and has been shown to drive waste prevention and better segregation, and indeed ultimately lower costs for many households who manage their waste more efficiently. This type of charging system: - is in accordance with the polluter pays principle, and will ensure a more environmentally...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Tyre Disposal (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: We have 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: Local Authority Housing (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I was pleased to announce the provision of €22m to Dublin City Council last week, for the construction of 72 new social housing units on the east side of Dominick Street in Dublin 1. This new development will allow for the re-housing of some 50 households from the existing west side blocks on Dominick Street and will create 22 new units for households from the Council’s housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am not aware of any delays in relation to the processing and management of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) applications. Limerick City and County Council is providing a central transactional shared service to all local authorities operating the HAP scheme. The shared service centre, which is the primary administrative support to HAP local authorities, is responsible for a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: As I indicated in replies to previous Parliamentary Questions tabled on this matter, the management of the development concerned is primarily a matter for Kildare County Council in the first instance, and I have no function in the matter. However, I understand from Kildare County Council that the securing of a satisfactory conclusion to the development of the site in question has been a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal Charges (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 129 together. The Government secured an agreement with all major waste collection companies to freeze charges, so that customers pay no more than they are currently paying for waste collection over the next 12 months for the same level of service. I have also been clear that the operation of the price freeze by the industry will be closely...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The following table provides details of Irish Water's capital investment programme, as presented in Irish Water's Business Plan 2014 - 2021 as well as the level of capital contribution from the State in the period to 2016. Funding of Irish Water 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Totals 2014 - 2021 Capital Programme: €m €m €m ...