Results 4,161-4,180 of 4,706 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Written Answers — Garda Retirements: Garda Retirements (7 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 413: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have availed of the Croke Park early retirement scheme from stations in Santry, Whitehall, Finglas, Cabra and Ballymun, Dublin. [6944/12]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (7 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 491: To ask the Minister for Health if he will give details of the requirements for a patient of the Health Service Executive to be provided with a voucher for taxi fares to accommodate them travelling to and from hospital for treatment. [6402/12]

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (7 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 540: To ask the Minister for Health the number of nurses, care assistants and clerical staff who have availed of the Croke Park early retirement scheme from Beaumont, Cappagh, James Connolly, St. Vincent's, Fairview, and St. Brendan's Grangegorman, Dublin. [6817/12]

Family Home Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (3 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Sinn Féin welcomes the Family Home Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and commends Deputy Stephen Donnelly for introducing it. The Bill is a conservative measure in terms of the overall package of mechanisms that are needed to address the problem of not only home repossessions, but arrears in general, and negative equity. If enacted, it would allow a judge the authority to consider...

Family Home Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (3 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Even some of the moderate proposals of the expert group on mortgage arrears remain to be implemented, despite the growing numbers of arrears cases. One simple initiative, which could be introduced tomorrow if the Government had the political will to do it, would be to ensure that assessment of housing need should not have to wait for legal proceedings for repossession to be brought against...

Family Home Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (3 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: We must be real and acknowledge this, so where the State is unwilling to provide social housing for people, they must be enabled to retain their homes where possible. The State facilitated their entry into over-indebtedness and unemployment. The State now has a responsibility to facilitate their exit from it. This Bill would have the effect of allowing the court to consider all of these...

Social and Affordable Housing (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 5: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans for the use of social housing from the National Assets Management Agency stock; the estimated cost; and the way these will be paid for. [6168/12]

Social and Affordable Housing (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Just before Christmas, NAMA announced it had approximately 2,000 properties available for local authorities and housing associations and that funding would be made available through the social housing leasing scheme, which the Minister of State mentioned. NAMA bought the debts at a reduced rate. It did not buy the properties. Would it not make more sense to call in the debts and have the...

Social and Affordable Housing (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: We are not requesting the properties for nothing. We have paid for them. We have certainly bailed out many people in doing so. We have helped to get many developers out of hot water. I do not accept we are asking for the houses for nothing. The Minister of State said the scheme may result in a short-term gain, but in the longer term it is not in the best interest of the country. It is...

Social and Voluntary Housing (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I have met many of the voluntary housing associations in recent months. Many of the associations are looking to buy housing units but they are having great difficulty raising money through financial institutions. Concerns have also been raised that interest rates, while low at present, if they rise could create problems in keeping rents at fair rates for their tenants. This is why there is...

Social and Voluntary Housing (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: The Minister of State referred to CALF. It does not appear the facility is able to ensure suitable loan conditions. The Minister of State also referred to the HFA. I would like to think the Minister of State will strengthen her efforts to provide public money through the HFA. On another issue, how many publicly owned social housing units will be built in 2012?

Local Government Reform (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I reiterate one point made by Deputy Stanley in regard to local government reform. It relates to the power of managers. We have seen this with Dublin City Council which has accumulated powers that were passed by the Oireachtas. It gave the council too much power while local councillors were relegated down the chain in terms of what they could and could not do. I would like to see those...

Local Government Reform (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: That is democracy.

Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I am opposed to water charges because I believe €500 million would be better spent on stopping the leakage in our system. That would provide significant employment while fixing a problem we have been dealing with for a number of years. In many of the older houses in places like Whitehall, Finglas and Walkinstown water is supplied through lead pipes. Will part of the €500 million be...

Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: It is around that.

Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: The Minister of State did not answer my question. Many of these houses are owned by old people whose only income is social welfare. These lead pipes potentially pose a massive problem. Has the issue been taken into account?

Homelessness Strategy (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: The date set for ending homelessness passed and we never succeeded in meeting our goal. There is talk about a strategy being put in place by 2013 or 2014 but does the Minister of State seriously believe this is a realistic date? I do not believe it is achievable. Has a timeline been set out for the homelessness strategy? At this moment people are sleeping on the streets outside Leinster...

Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 43: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe envisaged for the review and renewal of the strategy to end homelessness. [5911/12]

Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (2 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 59: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to set a new deadline for the ending of long-term homelessness. [5910/12]

Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Yesterday the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, revealed details of the taxi review, which, I am sure, the Cabinet has reviewed. It contains approximately 46 recommendations.