Results 18,641-18,660 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and I understand that Cavan County Council is dealing with the matter referred to by the Deputy. The local authority must maintain for public inspection a register of dog breeding establishments in its functional area, which must include the name and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The aim of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration. SICAP is a key priority of Government and its vision is to improve the life chances and opportunities of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or in unemployment through...

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

Simon Coveney: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 46 and 48 on today’s order paper which set out the position with regard to the general issue of local government reform. On the question of funding for additional local authority services the distribution of such funding is a matter for individual local authorities who must decide on priorities for their own areas. In relation to commercial...

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

Simon Coveney: Provision was made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 for a new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses. Following the necessary preparatory work the new 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...

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

Simon Coveney: Last week I brought a proposal to Government on this very matter on foot of a request by Dublin City Council for the designation of the western part of the Poolbeg peninsula as a Strategic Development Zone. As a result of my request, the Government made an Order designating the Poolbeg West area as Strategic Development Zone and Dublin City Council as the relevant development agency pursuant...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Aid for the Elderly (24 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I understand the scheme referred to was a local authority scheme to enable older people to downsize from homes that may have become too large for them to more suitable accommodation, thus potentially freeing up homes for larger families. Such schemes were traditionally operated by some housing authorities within their own allocation schemes rather than as part of a national scheme. I met...

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

Simon Coveney: From 2011 to date, my Department has provided €6.8 million to Galway City Council and €13 million to Galway County Council to support them in the delivery of their local authority housing construction and acquisition programmes. As funding provided is based on costs incurred by local authorities, a situation does not arise where funding is returned to my Department unspent....

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

Simon Coveney: The management and administration of the Rental Accommodation Scheme is the responsibility of each local authority. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister’s power to issue...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (24 May 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 Act 2001. The Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters except appeals of valuation procedures set out under the...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. Funding has been made available to all local authorities, including Galway City and County Councils, towards the programme for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. The detailed administration of the programme,...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department provides funding to local authorities for various social housing supports, including for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding provided by my Department meets 90% of the cost of such works, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%. The...

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

Simon Coveney: The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. Under the legislation, Irish Water now has the powers previously held by local authorities in relation to the takeover of Group Water Schemes. This means that Irish Water may acquire by agreement a waterworks or waste water works, subject generally...

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

Simon Coveney: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 amended section 3 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 so that dwellings let by approved housing bodies (AHBs) to social housing tenants now come within the remit of the Act. The position of these tenants is significantly improved by the change, which commenced on 7 April 2016, as they now benefit from the following: - Increased security of...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department published Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housingin April 2005 as a broad national level policy framework for local planning authorities in drawing up their statutory development plans and addressing the issue of housing in rural areas, taking into account the particular circumstances of the relevant local authority and the type of rural areas it may...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 258 together. Since 2010, an annual national housing survey of unfinished housing developments has been conducted during the summer months to monitor progress. In that period, the number of unfinished housing developments has decreased by approximately three-quarters, from nearly 3,000in 2010 to 668 in 2015. The detailed findings of the annual...

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

Simon Coveney: The Housing Agency, in consultation with my Department and local authorities, is updating data and developing a detailed database and GIS map of all local authority owned lands, as well as the Land Aggregation Scheme lands, showing their location, size, boundaries and other information. This map will be updated over the course of the Social Housing Strategy to record the development and use...

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

Simon Coveney: I will prepare and publish a comprehensive ‘Action Plan for Housing’ within this Government’s first 100 days. Ultimately, a shortage of supply of houses and apartments to buy and rent is at the heart of the challenges in the housing sector. The plan will build on what the previous Government has already done and will draw on the work of the Special Oireachtas Committee...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together. My Department, together with the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and local authorities has considered the affordability issues facing some borrowers who purchased properties under the Shared Ownership (SO) schemes and devised a more affordable long-term path towards full home ownership. A range of measures have already been...

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

Simon Coveney: On 2 February 2016, funding of €56.25 million was announced for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which is an increase of 10% on the previous year’s allocation. This funding will see over 8,000 homes receiving grant aid in 2016. Through careful management of my Department’s housing budget in 2015, additional funds were made...

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

Simon Coveney: During 2015, my Department established a working group involving key stakeholders in the rural water sector, which includes group water schemes, to address the development of the sector within the overall water reform programme to ensure that the programme responds effectively to current and future needs. Local authorities, the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water, the National...