Results 18,601-18,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Water Framework Directive (i.e. Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy) establishes a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The overall aim of the Directive is to maintain high and good status waters where they exist and to restore...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 48 together. The previous Government’s decision to replace town authorities with a new model of municipal governance was designed 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Land Issues (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: In the first instance, I wish to clarify I have no powers in relation to the initiation of Compulsory Purchase Orders, this being the responsibility of the relevant local authorities. However, I believe that the key issue raised by the Deputy’s Question relates to how we find ways to address current housing development and supply issues. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Data (24 May 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 customer billing and collection levels are a matter for the utility and one in which I have no function. Irish Water has published information on bill payment levels to the end of its 4th billing cycle on its...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Firstly, in relation to the prospect of the specific transfer of land to local authorities or other state bodies, I have to emphasise that NAMA does not own property or land. Its role in relation to property and land is that of a secured lender.  In that capacity, NAMA requires its debtors and receivers to openly market the sale of properties and land to ensure that the best...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Transport Policy (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: A specific requirement in relation to the preparation of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area is that it has regard to the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), Regional Plans and County Development Plans and this indeed has been the case in the preparation of the 2016-2035 Strategy. In fact, Chapter 2 and Page 16 in particular of the adopted GDA Transport Strategy, clearly set out...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The private rental sector has grown to become a major component of the housing market, meeting the accommodation needs of approximately 320,000 or one-fifth of all households in the State. Close to one-third of households living in the sector are in receipt of housing support in the form of rent supplement or other State support and, as such , the sector is also of key importance for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Following close consultation with Minister Naughten, I have already publicly stated that I will remove the mandatory minimum pay -by- weight charge for the collection of recyclable (or “green bin”) waste as part of the new household waste collection regime , by means of amending regulations. Collectors of household kerbside waste will not be required under law to charge for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic abuse rests with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the delivery of such services is managed through the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. A housing authority may provide short-term emergency housing to persons who are forced to leave their homes because of domestic violence, without having...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is a necessary focus at the moment on providing suitable emergency accommodation for homeless families currently in hotels. However, the Government is fully committed to ending long-term involuntary homelessness through the housing-led approach articulated in the Government’s 2013 Homelessness Policy Statement and through the detailed measures set out in the Government's...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The scheme is applicable to dwellings which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In addition,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 212 and 263 together. For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) No. 406/2009/EC. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20 per cent below their value in 2005. This is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No 29 on today’s order paper which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Housing is an absolute priority for this Government and, accordingly, a key priority of the Programme for a Partnership Government, which can be accessed at the link below, is the preparation and publication of an ‘Action Plan for Housing’ within the Government’s first 100 days. The Action Plan will be drafted with input from a number of key Departments, and will draw on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Minister for Finance is responsible for the legal framework governing financial regulation. The provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter for insurance companies and is based on an assessment of the risks they are accepting and adequate provisioning to meet those risks. As a matter of course, my Department together with local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 232 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. Responsibility for the environment functions, including climate change, will transfer to a new Department of Climate Change, Communications & Natural Resources. The marine planning and foreshore functions will remain with my Department. In relation to the community portfolio, responsibility for, inter alia, the LEADER programme;...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Local Loans Fund Act 1935 provides for the maintenance, financing and management of a fund to be a source from which loans from public moneys to local authorities or for local purposes and other similar loans can be made. Section 3 of this Act provides that the fund established shall be under the control of the Minister for Finance. As such, my Department has not carried out an assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The apartment minimum sizes specified in the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments - Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published in December 2015, are mandatory for all local authorities. The sizes for 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments are not new standards but a restatement of the minimum apartment sizes for such apartments set out in previous statutory guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal Charges (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213, 217 to 219, inclusive, and 240 together. 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...