Results 18,661-18,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The finalisation of any outstanding planning related matters affecting the development concerned is a matter for Kildare County Council and one in which I have no function. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority,...

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

Simon Coveney: Air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, known as the CAFÉ Directive. The Directive requires that certain minimum levels of monitoring are carried out for the purposes of assessment and management of air quality.  The EPA monitors a...

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

Simon Coveney: The following table contains the average costs for the range of differently sized social housing units as sought by the Deputy, in terms of both construct ion costs and ‘all- in ’ costs. These are based on the analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period. Construction cost is reflective of building costs to include VAT inclusive of...

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

Simon Coveney: The Social Housing Strategy 2020 targets the provision of some 111,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,600 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,400 households mainly through the Housing Assistance Payment. I anticipate that the 35, 600 units will be delivered as follows: some 22,300 units to be built and acquired, including Part V units, by local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is no indication from areas where pay-by-weight charging has already been implemented that there has been increased evidence of dumping. In addition, a comprehensive pay-by- weight awareness campaign is currently being rolled out, which includes practical advice for householders on reducing and segregating their waste and thereby minimising their costs. Notwithstanding the above,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. The Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on the collection of household waste carried out in 2012 analysed in depth the household waste collection market and gave a comprehensive overview of the market structure and industry in Ireland. It recognised that concentration had occurred in the market, as larger firms expanded, in part by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Control of Dogs (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I understand that Veterinary Ireland is undertaking an in-depth policy review at present, which includes, inter alia, an examination of the effectiveness of the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998. As this review, which is a matter solely for Veterinary Ireland, has not yet been finalised, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Funding (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: As housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area and the development of appropriate responses to the need identified. This can include the development of single rural dwellings where identified and prioritised by local authorities. Targets in respect of social housing delivery via a combination of building, buying and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Non-Payment (19 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 levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Rates income data are published by local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (19 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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The official...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (19 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 has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ieor by telephone on 1890 578 578. The Water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by Kildare County Council that the securing of a satisfactory conclusion to the development of the Naas Town Centre site has been a particular focus of its efforts over the last number of years. In this connection, the Council - on foot of arbitration procedures - recently successfully completed an agreement with one of two site owners relating to the provision of roads...

Adjournment Debate: Homeless Accommodation Provision (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will receive a copy of the official response, but I will begin by answering some of his questions directly. I have been speaking to a number of people who are sleeping rough in Dublin who are looking for hostel accommodation and Brú Aimsir is a popular choice. It is seen as safe and as of one of the higher standard hostels available for people looking for sheltered...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Event Licensing Regulations (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 111 together. My Department does not issue licences for the type of event referred to in the Questions. The organisers should contact the local authority concerned in relation to any necessary temporary road closures, the local Superintendent of An Garda Síochána, the local office of the Health Service Executive and any other...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The selection of applications and the provision of funding under the LEADER Programme 2014-2020 will be a matter solely for the local action group selected to implement the local development strategy in its area. My Department has no role in this regard. I can confirm, however, that an inquiry for funding under the new programme has been received from the organisation referred to in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Commission Establishment (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: In 2015, on the basis of a consultation paper prepared by my Department, and at the invitation of the then Minister, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht undertook a public consultation process on the establishment of an electoral commission. The Committee published a report on the consultation in January 2016. This report contains a series of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rights of Way Provision (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Section 7 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 requires the inclusion of a mandatory objective in an area’s development plan for “the preservation of public rights of way which give access to seashore, mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or other place of natural beauty or recreational utility, which public rights of way shall be identified both by marking them on at...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Funding is available under my Department’s Rural Water Programme towards the provision or necessary improvement of an individual water supply in a house. Local authorities were informed of the introduction of the grant scheme and the criteria to be met by way of Circular Letter L8/97 of April 1997. The terms and conditions of the scheme are set out in an Explanatory Memorandum which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Planning Framework (18 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The current National Spatial Strategy, NSS, was published in 2002 and was Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework set ting 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 plans...