Results 18,521-18,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: There are currently two Mortgage to Rent (MTR) schemes funded by my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority (LA) can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (LA- Mortgage-to- Rent). The other scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to acquire...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Government waste policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in the EU’s Waste Framework Directive. A number of specific measures have been, and will continue to be, introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated in the State and to increase the segregation of waste which cannot be prevented in line with Government policy. The introduction of pay-by-weight charges for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Provision (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Under the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, a household may apply to one housing authority only, for social housing support, at a time. Furthermore, it is not possible for a household on the waiting list of one housing authority to transfer its application to another authority and to carry the time spent on the previous list. The Social Housing Strategy 2020 includes a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: School Accommodation Provision (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Government Order designating the Poolbeg West area as Strategic Development Zone, with Dublin City Council as the relevant development agency pursuant to the provisions of Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) provides for, inter alia, the provision of educational facilities. A planning scheme must now be prepared and adopted by Dublin City Council within the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the matter referred to in the Question. The Control of Dogs Acts 1986, set out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. In particular, section 9 of the 1986 Act requires the owner or any other person in charge of a dog to accompany it and keep it under effectual control in any place other than the premises of the owner, the premises of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Yield (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The numbers of buses taxed in each licensing authority area and the corresponding tax revenue, including arrears, is set out for the years 2011 to 2015. Private buses are taxed on the basis of engine capacity. Rates for vehicles taxed on this basis range from €199 to €1,809 annually. The annual tax rates for large public service vehicles and youth and community buses are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Regulations (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The matter of how any company, including a waste collection company, accepts payment for the services that it provides is primarily a consumer protection issue and does not therefore fall within the my remit.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Services (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Discussions have commenced with the relevant Chief Executives on the possibility of shared services across a number of library authorities. The areas being considered for a shared service approach include Carlow and Kilkenny; Cavan and Monaghan; Laois and Offaly; Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo; Longford and Westmeath; and Cork City and Cork County. The proposed shared service structures are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department has met with groups who represent persons with special needs to discuss and explore the impact of pay-by-weight charging on households with special needs. My Department has also been in consultation with the HSE and the waste management industry to discuss the issue and to try to find a workable and fair solution to this important matter. Notwithstanding the complexity of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Government waste policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in the EU’s Waste Framework Directive. A number of specific measures have been, and will continue to be, introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated in the State and to increase the segregation of waste which cannot be prevented, in line with Government policy. The introduction of pay-by-weight charges for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of social housing adaptations and extensions, to address serious overcrowding and to meet the needs of tenants with a disability. This funding continues to be available to all local authorities, including Dublin City Council, and was not discontinued in 2008. The funding also provides for improvement works to private houses in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Data (31 May 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: Fire Service (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: As confirmed in “Keeping Communities Safe – A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland”, it is the national policy that the nearest available resource (in terms of speed of arrival) should be deployed to emergency incidents, irrespective of administrative boundaries. This policy is supported by the Risk-Based Approach (RBA) to managing emergency service provision. My...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Upgrade (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department recently announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on the current annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Professional Fees (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible at this point to estimate the expenditure by my Department on professional services in 2017. In the circumstances any potential savings are being estimated based on the 2015 expenditure figures. The amount paid by my Department in 2015 to which professional services withholding tax was applied was €1.369 million. The potential saving resulting from a 10% reduction...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Based on my Department’s current 2016 allocation for Travel and Subsistence (T&S), a ten per cent spending reduction is estimated to amount to €127,500. This estimate will have to be revised once Orders for the transfer of functions from my Department are complete, as related T&S budgets will transfer with staff leaving my Department. It is my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax (26 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Vehicles registered prior to 2008 are taxed on the basis of engine capacity. Vehicles registered from 2008 are taxed on the basis of carbon emissions (CO2). The basis of determining CO2 emissions for the latter category is the level provided on the Certificate of Conformity for the vehicle. This is the level emitted in terms of grams per kilometre driven, which is generally only measured at...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (26 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 107 and 111 together. The new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of...