Results 18,121-18,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The decision to replace town authorities with a new model of municipal governance under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 was designed primarily to strengthen local government within counties and to address widely acknowledged and long-standing weaknesses and anomalies in the previous system, including divided administration between town and county authorities, for example, in matters such...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: I take the Deputy’s point. When considering new reforms around local government in the programme for Government, we are ensuring local government funding structures and responsibilities will strengthen local democracy. There will be the devolution of new powers to local authorities, the reduction in the size of local electoral areas, the possible introduction of directly elected...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: In seeking to address the shortage of housing supply I am open to considering different delivery models, including those that utilise private sector funding to deliver additional units to be used for social housing and for affordable rental, whilst at the same time providing value for money. To this end, three specific measures are currently being developed and implemented by my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, at least 10% of the housing development on Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone, as in all residential development areas, must be reserved for the provision of social housing. Subject to the finalisation of a planning scheme for Poolbeg West, up to 3,000 new homes are considered...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Action Plan on Housing (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for a Partnership Governmentincludes a commitment to the preparation and publication of an ‘Action Plan for Housing’ within the Government’s first 100 days. The Action Plan 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 . The Action...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: A range of actions is currently being considered to provide for the much needed boosting of supply of all types of housing, including increasing the delivery of social housing, in the immediate, medium and longer-term. These actions, including possible legislative changes, will be brought forward in the context of the new “ Action Plan for Housing ” which will be published in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Inspections (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: While issues concerning the enforcement of waste legislation are a matter for local authorities who have significant powers under the waste regulations to secure compliance by waste collectors, my Department has introduced a number of measures to strengthen efforts to improve enforcement generally. Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) have been established in each of the three...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Marine Plan Implementation (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: Ireland intends to institute a network of Marine Protected Areas within our maritime area to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems and biodiversity as required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). This network will incorporate existing and future maritime special areas of conservation established under the Habitats Directive and special protection areas designated under the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Functions (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Rural Affairs and Social Enterprise (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 took effect from 9 June 2016. This Order provides for the transfer of certain community-related functions from my Department to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which will be renamed as the Department of Arts, Heritage, Rural, Regional and Gaeltacht...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (29 Jun 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. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 578 578. With regard...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The agreed Programme for a Partnership Governmentrecognises the potential role that credit unions can play in housing finance and supports the efforts of the Registrar of Credit Unions at the Central Bank to gradually lift current lending restrictions as appropriate, including for housing. The Programme further provides that we will investigate with all stakeholders how credit unions can...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Fund (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Commissioner for Valuation is responsible for valuation matters, including the global valuation of property of public utility undertakings under Part 11 of the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 come under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality. This legislation provides for global valuations of utility undertakings to be carried out by the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Planning Framework (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The current National Spatial Strategy ( NSS ) was published in 2002 and was Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework, setting an overarching planning framework. The Strategy remains in force and as a result of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, its statutory role and influence has been strengthened by new requirements for local authority and regional...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects Status (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: Regeneration projects funded by my Department in the Dublin City area target some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities, including those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour. The projects seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through investment in physical, social and economic regeneration. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Arrears (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Question Nos. 30 and 51 together. The Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016, which commenced second stage debate in Dáil Éireann on 24 June 2016, seeks to implement water elements of the “Confidence and Supply Arrangement” agreed with Fianna Fáil in the context of supporting the current minority Government. The Bill provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Potential (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The May 2015 report of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on Developing the Seaweed Industry in Ireland puts forward 8 recommendations for developing the industry. However, I have no statutory role in the promotion or development of the seaweed industry. Under the Foreshore Act 1933, I am responsible for regulating only the harvesting of wild seaweed and the report...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Reform (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: Electoral law provides that a person who is entitled to vote at an election or referendum shall vote in person at a polling station allotted to him or her unless they are included in the postal voters list or in the special voters list for the constituency concerned. While electoral law is subject to on-going review, I have no proposals at present to amend the existing arrangements for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under the 'Confidence and Supply Arrangement' agreed with Fianna Fáil in the context of supporting a minority government, the Government is committed to establishing an Expert Commission to consider and make recommendations on the long term funding of water services. The proposed terms of reference form part of that 'Arrangement', and I am satisfied that they cover all of the issues...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rent Controls (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, enacted on 4 December 2015, introduced a number of measures to address rent stability. The Act provides, inter alia,that the minimum period between rent reviews for tenancies is increased from 12 to 24 months and this new provision will apply for a 4 year period. In addition, the Act increased the minimum period of notice of new rent from 28...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Apprenticeship Programmes (29 Jun 2016)

Simon Coveney: The matter of apprenticeships in local authorities is subject to ongoing discussion at the Local Authority National Council (LANC), which is the sectoral management/union forum for discussing industrial relations matters pertaining to the sector as a whole. My Department is positively disposed to apprenticeships in local authorities and will support the outcome of the ongoing process at the...