Results 2,001-2,020 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's voluntary and co-operative housing programme is supported through two funding schemes, the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) and the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS). In the case of the CAS, which provides capital funding to approved housing bodies for the provision of accommodation for people with specific categories of need including the homeless, older people and...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: Details of payments to local authorities under my Department's Rural Water Programme in respect of the group scheme sector from 2007 to 2009 and the allocations for 2010 are set out in the following table. Payments in respect of Group Schemes in 2007€ Payments in respect of Group Schemes in 2009€ Allocations in respect of Group Schemes in 2010€ Carlow 5,707,278.59 3,329,568.57...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: To the end of quarter 1 2010, my Department has received some 112 applications, comprising 2,801 units, under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. Of these, 71 applications have been given approval, 25 are under consideration, 12 have been placed on hold and a further 4 refused. In Kerry, 1 application has been given approval with a further application under consideration. Applications have...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: Eligibility generally for the affordable housing schemes is determined on the basis that applicants are in need of housing and cannot afford to purchase a house on the open market. In the case of the Shared Ownership and 1999 affordable housing scheme, single applicants are eligible where their income in the previous tax year was €40,000 or under. In the case of a two income household, the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 to 429, inclusive, together. With regard to social housing maintenance issues generally, under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is a matter for individual authorities, in this case Dublin City Council. Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (1 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources...

Order of Business. (3 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: More outrage.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (3 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: Approval in principle to extend the fire station in Templemore was notified to North Tipperary County Council in 2007 and the matter will be further considered in the Department on receipt of detailed design plans for the project. Further investment in the fire service in North Tipperary will be considered under future capital programmes within the constraints on available resources and will...

Written Answers — Housing Statistics: Housing Statistics (15 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: While my Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics, the full range of which can be viewed on www.environ.ie, it does not collect the data sought on the number of vacant units by county. The most recent information relating to vacant residential units can be found in the 2006 census data which is available from the CSO, www.cso.ie.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (15 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service in its functional area and the assessment of fire cover needs having regard to the nature of the fire hazards and the probable incidence and extent of fires in its area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. In general, the burning of upland areas for firebreaks should only be undertaken with the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department has recouped almost €12.4 million under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 to local authorities in respect of 90% of revenue expenditure incurred by the organisation concerned on homeless accommodation and related services over the period 2007 to 2009. A further 10% has been provided by the local authorities concerned. It is a matter for each local authority, in the first...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (15 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department received a payment claim in the amount of €73,473 from Cork County Council on 10 June in respect of this project. This amount has been paid to the Council, bringing the total paid to date to €1,817,649.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (15 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out, in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Grants are also available from my Department for the renewal or...

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: I join Deputy Seán Power in complimenting Dermot Earley, a county man of my own, on his contribution to the Defence Forces and wish him and his family well. Our prayers are with them at this time.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: It is a matter for individual housing authorities to plan the composition and management of their social housing investment programmes having regard to the specific social housing needs and priorities in their areas and to the Exchequer funding allocations available to them. Dublin City Council was advised of its Social Housing Investment Programme allocation in April 2010. A total of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (17 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: 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. Funding provided by my Department in this context relates to the recoupment of 90% of approved expenditure by housing authorities on accommodation for homeless persons, with the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (22 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together. It is a matter for each housing authority to determine, in accordance with section 9 of the Housing Act 1988, whether a household is or is not reasonably able to meet the cost of the accommodation which they are occupying or to obtain suitable alternative accommodation. Guidance issued to housing authorities by my Department in relation...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for an incremental purchase scheme in respect of newly-built houses reserved by housing authorities and approved housing bodies for the purpose. I recently made the necessary statutory instruments bringing the scheme into operation from 14 June 2010. When I announced the details of the new scheme, I indicated my intention to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Question Nos. 394 and 415 together. The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. My Department does not hold information on waiting lists. A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Jun 2010)

Michael Finneran: It is a matter for each housing authority to determine, in accordance with section 9 of the Housing Act 1988, whether a household is or is not reasonably able to meet the cost of the accommodation which they are occupying or to obtain suitable alternative accommodation. In general, housing authorities do not assess the long term housing needs of separated persons until a legal separation...