Results 17,941-17,960 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: UK Referendum on EU Membership (7 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: A senior official has been nominated to oversee my Department’s input to management of the national response to the outcome of the UK referendum on withdrawal from the European Union. That input is managed primarily through the participation of my Department in the work of both the Interdepartmental Group of senior officials which is addressing bilateral and national interests...

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

Simon Coveney: The information requested is set out in the following table and reflects the transfer of functions from my Department to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Year Commissioned Consultant/Author etc. Name/Description of Report/Review/Study Date or Expected Date of Publication Amount Spent Since March 2011 2011 ARUP Consulting Engineers Study in...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together. My Department has not engaged the services of any photographer or external PR firm since I came to office. My Department’s Press Office generally provides photographic services when required. However, if external photography services are required, they are obtained in line with the Whole-of-Government Optional Framework for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness 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: Local Authority Funding (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I recently announced the Government’s approval to the establishment of a Local Infrastructure Fund of €200 million to relieve critical infrastructural blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites and to improve the economic viability of new housing projects in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand for housing. The Fund will be composed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal Charges (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 120 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. My Department has met representatives of the waste industry this week, at which a range of issues...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Constituency Boundaries (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Census 2016 was taken on 24 April 2016 and the Central Statistics Office expects to publish the preliminary results this month. Section 5 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides for the establishment, by me as Minister, of a Constituency Commission upon the publication of those results. The function of the Constituency Commission is to make a report on the constituencies for the election of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, following the sanction for staff by my Department, their recruitment and assignment is a matter for each individual Chief Executive.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Recycling Policy (6 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: Community Development Projects (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The organisation in question submitted an application to Pobal under the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector. In total 148 applications were received and assessed by Pobal on behalf of my Department with 70 organisations to receive funding. The quality of applications was very high, leading to a highly competitive assessment process. I approved...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Funding (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The allocation for regeneration projects for 2016 is €50m, as stated in the reply to Question Number 14 of 29 June 2016. Individual regeneration projects are implemented on a multi-annual basis and, accordingly, they receive funding that is spread over the years of their implementation. The €50m allocated for regeneration projects in 2016 is in relation to implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Funding (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: The approved construction budget, which is subject to review, for phase 1 of the Dolphin House regeneration project is currently €19.1m. This is to cover the construction of 37 new units and the refurbishment of 67 units (100 units in total) and the provision of lift blocks. Other community-related costs are considered as required, such as the provision of CCTV facilities to help...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (6 Jul 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 Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (6 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together. The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 2:In page 3, to delete lines 16 to 26 and substitute the following:“ “(1A) (a) Notwithstanding section 21(1) of the No. 2 Act of 2013, Irish Water shall not charge for water services provided to a dwelling in respect of the period (in this subsection referred to as the ‘first-mentioned period’) commencing on 1 July 2016 and ending on 31 March...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: This is a suspension, not an abolition. If we did not have any future date then we would not have a clear suspension period. The commitment given in the amendment is for a nine-month suspension, which can be extended if the committee needs more time to carry out its work, and if the Minister judges that the time is necessary or if the committee asks for more time. If we had no end date...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Yes, that is my understanding.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Yes. We are debating amendments Nos. 2 and 4. Amendments Nos. 3, 5 and 6 have been ruled out of order.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I do not make the decision.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I meant to answer the question. There will be no billing during this period. Obviously arrears that have built up in advance of 1 July of this year still stand but there is not going to be a pursuing of bills or arrears during the nine-month period. In other words, we are trying to freeze all billing activity during the nine-month period in order to create, if possible, a space for...