Results 2,081-2,100 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Urban Renewal Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: Yes, but at this point there may not be an application from Dublin City Council in respect of Dolphin House. I do not want to put something incorrect on the record. I will provide a report to Deputy Terence Flanagan without the need for a further question.

Emergency Planning (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: That is not correct.

Mental Health Services (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: At the outset, I would like to thank Deputy Neville for raising this report on today's Adjournment. It is an issue close to my heart. I have been chairman of the Roscommon Mental Health Association for many years and hold that position at the moment. When A Vision for Change was published in 2006, it was universally welcomed as a progressive, evidence based and realistic document which...

Voluntary Housing Associations (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this item as it allows me the opportunity to acknowledge the very good work done by the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. The sector has a proud record of achievement in the provision of rental accommodation to substantial numbers of vulnerable households over the past 20 years or so. Since the 1980s, more than 23,000 homes have been delivered...

European Economic and Social Committee (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputies McGrath and Hoctor for their contributions. The European Economic and Social Committee, EESC, plays an important role in the European policy making process and I am delighted with the opportunity to speak on the matter this evening. The EESC is a consultative body of the European Union and is the prime forum for the representation of organised civil society within the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: In July, 2009 the Department of Social Protection introduced changes in the way in which applications for rent supplement are assessed. The main effect of these changes is that persons who are six months in private rented accommodation and whose circumstances have changed such that they can no longer afford the rent do not require to have an assessment of housing need carried out by a local...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of housing policy. Data on social housing commencements are published in the quarterly housing statistics bulletin, the most recent of which is Q3 2009. The full range of data compiled and bulletins issued can be viewed on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. Under the social...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: The purpose of affordable housing is to support access to home ownership for middle income households by making housing available for purchase at a discount from market price. In the absence of an occupancy condition attaching to the allocation of an affordable house the very principle for providing that house could be undermined and call into question the use of Exchequer funding for...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: The renewed Programme for Government sets out a clear commitment to create and maintain a comprehensive House Price Database based on sales prices. My Department has met with a broad range of interested parties in regard to the shape that such a register might take and recommendations arising from this process will shortly be made to Government. The timing of the establishment of a register...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 513 together. The overall national policy framework to address homelessness is set out in the Government's homelessness strategy, The Way Home, which was published in August 2008 and the National Implementation Plan for the strategy, which was published in April 2009. Implementation of the homelessness strategy at local and regional level will be...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2009 provides for a new housing needs assessment process, replacing section 9 of the Housing Act 1988 which currently governs the assessment of need. Regulations are now in preparation in my Department which will give detailed effect to the new needs assessment process. It is envisaged that these Regulations will be made, and section...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 27 and 514 together. Over 1,400 prospective purchasers formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice loan website and, to date, 85 applications have been made. Of these, 9 have been approved, with 4 of these now drawn down. Of the 9 approved applications, 5 were for second hand properties and 4 for new build properties. The 4 loans drawn...

Written Answers — Multi-Unit Developments: Multi-Unit Developments (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Government has demonstrated a clear commitment to dealing effectively with the range of complex issues relating to multi-unit developments and is bringing forward a comprehensive suite of legislative proposals in response to the Law Reform Commission's Report on Multi-Unit Developments. In its consultation paper issued in late 2006 the Law Reform Commission made a number of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: When I introduced the Incremental Purchase Scheme, applying to certain new local authority housing stock, on 14 June 2010 I indicated my intention to bring forward legislation in 2011 to underpin a similar scheme for the sale of existing local authority houses to tenants. This scheme will replace the current tenant purchase scheme introduced in 1995. The intention to replace the existing...

Written Answers — Housing Schemes: Housing Schemes (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department received a further submission in relation to the scheme in question from Monaghan County Council on 28 June 2010. This is now being examined and my Department will respond to the Council's proposals as soon as possible with a view to progressing the scheme.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: To the end of quarter 2 2010, 1,618 unsold affordable units have been approved for inclusion in the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. Of these, 614 of the units have lease agreements signed and in place with approved housing bodies. While the cost of the lease agreement is a matter for the relevant local authority, in general, in most lease agreements the approved housing body pay the local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 505 of 6 July 2010, which sets out the current position.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Housing (Interest on Moneys Owed to Housing Authorities) Regulations 2010 do not apply to existing local authority rent schemes. However, these Regulations will apply to new rent schemes, which housing authorities will be required to put in place in 2011 under the Housing Act, 2009, and represent a reasonable provision that where a tenant of a housing authority has not paid the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together. 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 regulations bringing the scheme into operation from 14 June 2010. The Regulations allow...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Jul 2010)

Michael Finneran: As the matters referred to are connected with the subject of a judgement of the High Court it would not be appropriate for me to comment in any detail. Statutory responsibility for the provision of traveller accommodation rests with the relevant housing authority; accordingly it is a matter for Dublin City Council, in this instance, to consider the appropriate options. My Department's role in...