Results 1,721-1,740 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I cannot accept the amendment. Section 34(2) sets out the arrangements for the operation of a hardship clause in the application of this section where moneys are owing to a housing authority. It provides that, where a housing authority is satisfied that a household would suffer undue hardship, it can enter into an agreement with the household for repayment of the money due in reasonable...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am advised that ordering the paragraphs in such a subsection gives no particular pre-eminence to the items covered. Therefore, the amendments are unnecessary and I ask the Senators to withdraw them. I appreciate the intent of the Senator's amendment is to focus on preventative measures and inter-agency work but I am satisfied that the section as it currently stands will achieve that...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: While I appreciate the intent of the Senator's amendment is to focus on preventative measures and inter-agency work, I am satisfied that the section as it currently stands will achieve that purpose. I indicated on the previous occasion that I would develop guidelines in this area that will reflect work already undertaken by the Centre for Housing Research that provides important training to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am generally satisfied that with the extent of consultation provided for, as the joint policing committees are representative not only of councillors, Oireachtas Members and senior Garda officers but also include community and voluntary interests. Importantly, subsection 5(d) provides for consultation with any other person as the authority considers appropriate. As I consider the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is not necessary. Section 37(1) already provides that this Part applies to dwellings provided by an approved body. I ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment. We cannot sell voluntary houses because we do not own them. There will be provision under the new incremental purchase scheme in respect of homes that have yet to be built.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Let me distinguish between local authority housing and voluntary housing. Local authorities run the tenant purchase scheme through which tenants can buy their local authority houses. Under the incremental purchase scheme, which is covered in this legislation, tenants will be in a position to buy voluntary houses. Existing voluntary houses are not in our ownership and thus we cannot sell them.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: As I stated on the last occasion, the current tenant purchase arrangements do not apply to apartments. While we are continuing to work to finalise proposals for a viable sales scheme for apartments, in advance of obtaining experience of dealing with the sale of apartments under any future legislative model, it would be premature to consider the sale of new apartments in this matter under the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Members for their contributions during the passage of the Bill through the House and for the warm welcome afforded to me on my return to the Seanad as a Minister of State. This has been a good, worthwhile debate and there were worthwhile and vigorous contributions from all sides. While there is seldom complete agreement on any issue before the House, it would not be a...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The intention of section 20(5) is to underline the seriousness of actions such as the breach of tenancy agreement or non-payment of rent. The consequence of these actions is that they are to be taken into consideration by a housing authority in determining the household's eligibility for further support. The subsection, as amended on Committee Stage, provides that a household that was...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment seeks to require a Minister to regulate, whereas the Bill uses the normal drafting convention that a Minister may make regulations. The amendment is unnecessary. It is the intention of the provisions that the Minister will make the necessary regulations. Drafting convention is that the power to make regulations is an enabling power in that it permits the Minister to do so...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Subsection (6) provides that the Minister may make regulations providing for the description and classification of household need. It is intended that these regulations would include a revised classification system for housing needs centred on severity and persistence of need. It is proposed to base the revised classification system, in as much as is possible, on the model developed by...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I appreciate the Senator's concern to ensure that there are timely assessments of need. However, this is adequately covered by section 20 which deals with individual assessments and section 21, which deals with the summary of assessments. My intention is to have more regular reporting on summary of assessments of needs. The whole intention of changing the current regime is to provide more...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am satisfied that the current formulation in sections 20(7) and 21 would achieve the same aims as the Senator's amendment, by giving a framework for more timely assessment of need. Subsection (7) empowers the Minister to make regulations regarding the frequency of reviewing and updating the assessment of housing needs of an individual household. Where an individual seeks a housing...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Before moving to the substance of the amendment, the intent of subsection (7) is to empower the Minister to make regulations to set out how an assessment of housing needs will be carried out for an individual household. It deals with practical administrative matters, such as application forms, the timing of assessments etc. In this light, an amendment of the type suggested is not...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The allocation scheme is a mechanism for housing authorities to fairly and transparently allocate dwellings to individual households. Subsection (4) empowers the Minister to make regulations governing the matters that housing authorities must include in their allocation schemes, including the manner of allocation of different categories of dwelling and the order or priority of their...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Section 25 relates to tenancy agreements under the rental accommodation scheme. It is not considered appropriate in this context to deal with non-payment of arrears as powers are provided elsewhere for housing authorities to deal sympathetically with tenants who fall into arrears. Section 31(6)(f) allows for a housing authority to include in its rent scheme procedures, where appropriate, to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: As I stated, I continue to consult the Parliamentary Counsel on the matter. It would be reasonable to allow this consultation which arises from my commitment to consider whether more can be provided in terms of tenant support services. If the Parliamentary Counsel accepts this is possible, I will do so. However, a decision on the matter has not yet been reached.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: As I stated, the implementation plan is being worked on as we speak and I hope to have it in place before Christmas. It would be inappropriate to put the cart before the horse. I stated on Second Stage and Committee Stage, and I reiterate on Report Stage, that I intend to bring forward the parts of the implementation plan that require legislative underpinning. As stated, the House will...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Amendments in the names of a number of Senators on the issue of tenancy support services were tabled and discussed on Committee Stage. The amendments sought to make provision for housing authorities to undertake to offer tenancy services in the sense of providing support to tenants to sustain and continue with their tenancies. As promised on Committee Stage, I have examined this matter with...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: These amendments generally seek to expand the list of bodies and persons with which the housing authority formally consults on housing service plans. I do not consider the combination of amendments adds to the provision. I am satisfied the list in paragraph (f) is sufficiently broad to cover the groups referred to in the proposed amendments. When work is completed on the homeless action...