Results 18,701-18,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Data (17 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: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Galway County Council has included the Group Water Scheme in question in its application to my Department for funding under Measure 3 of the new Rural Water Multi-Annual Funding Programme for the period 2016 to 2018. My Department is currently considering local authorities' bids for funding and allocations to authorities for funding under the new programme will be provided shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department 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 contact 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 issues...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Clare County Council has included Carrigaholt Group Sewerage Scheme in its application to my Department for funding under Measure 5 of the new Rural Water Multi-Annual Funding Programme for the period 2016 to 2018. My Department is currently considering local authorities' bids for funding and allocations to authorities for funding under the new programme will be provided shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Funding of some €22.6 m has been provided to date by my Department for the Cranmore regeneration project. A further €16.3 million has been approved in principle by my Department to fund various physical elements of the Cranmore regeneration masterplan in the coming years. Developing a long term vision for the regeneration of Cranmore is important for the communities who live...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 to 372, inclusive, together. As pyritic heave relates to the expansion of the sub-floor hardcore material beneath the ground floor concrete slab under affected buildings, pyritic damage is generally confined to the ground floors in dwellings, apartments and duplexes. In this regard, the pyrite remediation scheme is one of “last resort” and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Policy (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 391 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 878 of 13 January 2016 which sets out a range of actions to support the regeneration of towns and villages. In addition, the Programme for a Partnership Government published last week sets out a series of additional measures which will be progressed to attract people back into main streets and town...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Funding (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides 80% funding to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The detailed administration of the grants, including the approval and prioritisation of grants to applicants, is the responsibility of each individual local authority. For 2016, the total funding availability for Meath County Council in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 399 together. My colleague 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. In...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Safety Regulations (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I understand that Kildare County Council is liaising with the residents of the development at Millfield Manor on an ongoing basis in an effort to be of support and assistance to residents at this difficult time. Part B of the Building Regulations sets out the statutory standards of fire safety that apply when a new building is constructed in order to ensure the safety of persons in and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Question is referring to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which was launched in late 2015. The aim of the Scheme is to improve the living and working environment in small rural town and village communities and enhance their potential to support increased economic activity into the future. The Scheme will be delivered by Local Authorities in conjunction with local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 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: Student Accommodation (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, met with University College Dublin Students’ Union and the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) on 2 September 2015 to discuss a range of issues relating to student accommodation, including the rent-a-room scheme. As set out in the reply to Question No 312 of 2 May 2016, this scheme was introduced with the aim of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Vision Plans for the regeneration of Southill, Ballinacurra Weston and Moyross were prepared by the Limerick Southside Regeneration Agency and Limerick Northside Regeneration Agency, respectively, and launched in January 2008. These Plans set out the broad objective for the regeneration of these areas, following from the publication of the Fitzgerald Report in April 2007. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 395 together. I anticipate a phased commencement of the LEADER programme across all areas between now and July. My Department is currently concluding the selection of LEADER local development strategies, in accordance with strict EU regulatory requirements. I expect to issue the first contracts to local action groups this week as discussions on...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Services (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together. The number of members in each local authority area and the configuration of local electoral areas are matters that are appropriate to a review of local electoral areas. The most recent review of local electoral areas was carried out from November 2012 to May 2013 by a Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee established under the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: The National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, adopted by the previous Government in April 2014, clearly identifies competitiveness as a pillar of the fundamental national objective on transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The National Policy Position also sets out a number of key issues for consideration in the on-going evolution of national climate policy,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seanad Elections (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: A Programme for a Partnership Government includes a goal for this Government to pursue the implementation of the Manning report, formally known as the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform. That report makes recommendations to restructure and reform the Seanad, including extending the university franchise at Seanad elections to graduates of other institutions of higher education in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it in accordance with a water charges plan to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Section 22(5) of the Act provides that a water charges...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (17 May 2016)

Simon Coveney: Based on the annual rates of motor tax, the cost of the reductions in motor tax rates for goods vehicles announced in Budget 2016 is in the order of €49.5 m per annum.