Results 1,861-1,880 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (11 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) is a multi-disciplinary standing committee which has provided scientific, technical and engineering advice on applications for foreshore consent for the past three decades. The MLVC is chaired by the Marine Institute and draws together officials with scientific, technical and engineering expertise from a range of Government Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Impact Statements (11 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The offshore grid elements of the Codling I project including cable routes and an offshore sub-station were considered as part of the environmental impact assessment carried out by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee prior to the determination of the foreshore lease application. The Lease prohibits any work from commencing in the leasehold area until such time as the necessary authorisation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Disability Services Provision (10 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: My Department’s Sectoral Plan, as provided for in section 31 of the Disability Act 2005, was developed in consultation with groups representing people with disabilities to assist the Department and local authorities in supporting an inclusive society with accessible buildings, facilities, services and information. In accordance with my Department’s Sectoral Plan, all local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (10 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: An incremental purchase scheme for certain newly-built and newly acquired local authority houses came into operation in 2010 under Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The scheme is open to households transferring from other forms of social housing support, who must purchase the dwelling on allocation, and to households on local authority waiting lists, who have 5 years...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Remit (10 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: As was recently acknowledged by my Department in Circular Letter PL 5/14 to planning authorities regarding the taking in charge of housing estates, there is an issue in relation to some stand-alone developer-provided water services infrastructure in certain estates, which in many cases may require upgrading and remediation and which must be addressed before the taking in charge process can be...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Planning permission is required for development - that is, the carrying out of works - or for a change in the use of land or structures, unless the development is specifically exempted from the requirement to obtain planning permission. A change in the status of a residential property from being owner-occupied to being occupied by tenants – without any change in the structure of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (10 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I refer to the reply given in the Topical Issues Debate on this matter on 25 February 2015 which sets out the up-to-date position.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: In January 2013, my Department issued statutory guidelines to planning authorities in relation to development contributions. These guidelines emphasise the importance of promoting development through the application, where feasible, of reduced development contributions to facilitate development and promote economic activity and job creation in local areas. With regard to small-scale...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: My role, as Minister, is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each planning authority. The adoption of individual development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. While planning authorities, and An Bord Pleanála, are required to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (5 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: My Department has received advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the interaction of the Foreshore Act 1933 and any folio or other rights that might exist and is at present considering the implications of that advice. I recently met a delegation of seaweed harvesters to discuss their concerns around seaweed harvesting generally. My Department will continue to engage with all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (5 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: As a general guide housing costs can be considered to be affordable where the payments do not, over the course of a year, exceed 35 per cent of a person's annual net income. This benchmark was used in previous affordable housing schemes and is consistent with international comparators. However, affordability for a person or household is very dependent on their individual personal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (5 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: It is a matter for the relevant road authority, or the National Roads Authority, as the case may be, to carry out road projects in accordance with the approval received for such projects from An Bord Pleanála under 51 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended. I have no role in relation to this matter, which comes under the policy remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (5 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I refer to the reply given in the Topical Issues Debate on this matter on 25 February 2015 which sets out the up-to-date position.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Issues (5 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: While I fully appreciate and acknowledge the extremely difficult and distressing situations that householders have to deal with when faced with the consequences of poor workmanship or the use of defective materials, in general, building defects are matters for resolution between contracting parties, i. e. the homeowner, the builder, the supplier and/or their respective insurers. In the event...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (5 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The lease application for the development of a wind farm on the Codling Bank, off the Wicklow coast, was considered and granted in accordance with the regulatory and legislative framework applicable at the time. The decision taken in 2005 by the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to grant a foreshore lease for the Codling wind farm was open to review by the High...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (5 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources did not engage any external consultants to review any aspect of the foreshore lease application for the development of a wind farm on the Codling Bank, off the Wicklow coast, which is the subject of a 2005 lease between the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Codling Wind Park Ltd. The lease...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Provision (5 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Fundamentally, the main cause of rising rents is a lack of supply in the market. The implementation of the range of actions under the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy will support increased housing supply. New house completions in 2014 amounted to 11,016 units nationally, up 33% on the 2013 figure. In the third quarter of 2014, planning permissions were granted for 2,144...

Dairy Sector: Statements (4 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: He is suffering amnesia.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Deputy, however, has no solution.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Mar 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I assure the Deputy that the Government certainly does not underestimate the problem. We recognise that there is pent-up demand and we are doing what we can to address that. To do that, we need to adopt strategies. As I already outlined, the "Social Housing Strategy 2020" and the "Construction 2020" strategy address in a multifaceted way the delivery of more units for those who need them...