Results 2,061-2,080 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

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

Michael Finneran: My Department does not hold information on the number of housing authorities which include or disregard family income supplement payments in their differential rent schemes. The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT...

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

Michael Finneran: At my Department's request, the Centre for Housing Research carried out an evaluation of the pilot central heating and insulation scheme for older people which was approved by my Department in May 2007. The scheme was targeted at 150 privately owned homes occupied by people aged sixty five and over, with annual incomes of €30,000 or less, in the Ballyfermot, Whitehall and Crumlin areas of...

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

Michael Finneran: I am deeply conscious of the difficulties experienced by people who are homeless and I have given very high priority to addressing the issue. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities and the HSE has responsibility in relation to health and care services for homeless persons. My Department's role in relation...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (6 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: On 5 July 2010, I announced the library capital programme for 2010 and 2011, including grant aid of €600,000 towards the proposed new facility in Gaoth Dobhair.

Written Answers — Local Authority Loans: Local Authority Loans (6 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department consulted with the office of the Attorney General in relation to the possible inclusion of the relevant provisions in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009, by way of Committee Stage amendment. On the advice of the Attorney General the provisions were not included in that Bill. However, I have requested my Department to arrange to have the provisions necessary to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: A revised proposal in respect of this project was received from Laois County Council on 18 June 2010. No payments have been made by my Department in respect of the project. The proposal will be considered for inclusion in the list of projects to be funded under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme in 2011 in the light of, inter alia, available funding and the relative priority afforded...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: Part 4 of the 2009 Act provides for tenant purchase, along incremental purchase lines, of apartments in designated existing local authority complexes. Preparatory work is underway and I expect to make the necessary statutory instrument early in 2011 to enable the apartments sales scheme to be brought into operation as quickly as possible thereafter. Once the Regulations have been made...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides funding to approved housing bodies of up to 100% of the approved costs of accommodation for older people, the homeless, persons with special needs, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. In February 2010, I announced the approval of funding for some 75 voluntary and co-operative housing projects at various locations...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: In the case of housing adaptations carried out with assistance provided under my Department's suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, relevant building works must be carried out in accordance with the Building Regulations and, in the case of new dwellings, in accordance with Part M of the Regulations in order to ensure visitability by people with...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: The national employment action plan is the main welfare to work measure under which all persons between the ages of 18 and 65 years who are approaching three months on the live register are identified by the Department of Social Protection and referred to FÁS for interview, with a view to helping them re-enter the labour market. The provisions contained in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous...

Written Answers — Warmer Homes Schemes: Warmer Homes Schemes (7 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 45 of 22 April 2010, which outlines the position in regard to the retrofitting of energy efficiency measures in local authority dwellings.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides funding to approved housing bodies of up to 100% of the approved costs of accommodation for older people, the homeless, persons with special needs, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. In February 2010, I announced the approval of funding for some 75 voluntary and co-operative housing projects at various locations...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: The project in question, which is at an early stage of development, is part of my Department's Remedial Works Programme 2009-2011. As part of my Department's examination of the proposal, including ongoing meetings and discussions with Kildare County Council, approval issued recently to a preliminary budget of €6.61 million for the project, subject to specific terms and conditions. Further...

Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: To the end of June 2010, my Department had approved over 2,330 units for use under the social housing leasing initiative. Of these, some 1,830 have been issued with funding approval, of which 175 are private lease units to be provided by either a local authority or an approved housing body, AHB. Of the private lease units approved under the initiative, 47 have lease agreements signed and...

Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Deputy raised two questions, the first regarding the number of units leased from private landlords. The target I set for this year and last year was 2,000 units each year. We achieved our target. There were 1,993 units for 2009 and I am confident that we will reach our target this year. The reason for the private units being at that level is that local authorities obviously decided,...

Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: Deputy Lynch asked about the options at the end of a lease period of ten or 20 years. There are a number of options for the local authorities to meet their social housing needs and these include renewing the lease, the purchase of the unit if the option to purchase clause has been included in the lease agreement, or if the owner is willing, or there is the other option of taking the house...

Urban Renewal Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: Early in 2010, in response to Question No. 43 of 21 January, I set out details of the ambitious multi-annual housing regeneration programme I am pursuing and the status of housing regeneration projects under way in Ballymun, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Dundalk, Sligo and Tralee. I have since announced a 2010 regeneration programme allocation of €126.795 million, compared to...

Urban Renewal Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Deputy did not submit a question on Dolphin House so I do not have further information. It is initially a matter for Dublin City Council but I will contact the council for an update on the situation at Dolphin House and I will provide it to Deputy Flanagan. If I had notice of this matter, I would have more information for him.

Urban Renewal Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I referred to the Limerick regeneration project. Two weeks ago, the Taoiseach and I attended the launch of the €337 million project. The event received widespread coverage. I also referred to the Glen in Cork. I have not visited Dolphin House. I have visited many of the regeneration project locations, including Ballymun, and I will visit Tralee next week.

Urban Renewal Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I will ask Dublin City Council for an update. This is the responsibility of Dublin City Council.