Results 2,081-2,100 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: Substantial resources are being provided to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to meet the high level of demands on its services. There is currently a total of 35 staff working in the PRTB, which also receives ongoing support from my Department. The PRTB has also engaged a panel of 175 mediators and adjudicators to assist with its dispute resolution functions. An increased...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The most recent assessment of the need for social housing which was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005 indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists compared with 48,413 households in March 2002 a decrease of almost 10%. More comprehensive data on the assessment at an individual local authority level will be published shortly in the Annual...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 248 of 1 December 2005 and Nos. 117 and 151 of 14 February 2006. As previously indicated, the Government considers that improving public information on radon, so as to enable and encourage householders to address monitoring or remedial requirements economically, is the most effective approach in Irish circumstances to ensuring radon safety in homes. It...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 4 on today's order paper.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: Details in relation to the number of social and affordable houses provided in 2005 under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000-2004 are available on the Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The new house grant scheme was terminated in 2003 to concentrate housing programmes on areas of greatest impact and social need. It is not proposed to reintroduce the grant. However, through overall increases in supply, and increasing output under various affordable housing initiatives, the Government are seeking to improve access to home ownership for first time buyers. These targeted...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Government have put in place a number of new arrangements to facilitate the delivery of strong programmes of social and affordable housing. A total of €6.5 billion has been invested in housing capital programmes from Exchequer resources since 1997. Under the current National Development Plan, spending at end 2005 was 3% ahead of forecast. Largely due to construction inflation, the...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Commission on the Private Rental Residential Sector, on whose report the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 is based, did not recommend that the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) should collect and hold tenancy deposits, presumably because of certain practical difficulties associated with the performance of such a function and the requirement for a high degree of co-operation by...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The setting of budget costs by my Department for the construction of social housing schemes would involve adjustments of funding levels to eliminate duplication of funding sources should there be cases where funding is provided by Sustainable Energy Ireland for energy efficiency measures.

Written Answers — Housing Sector: Housing Sector (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is not possible to estimate reliably the level of demand from particular categories of potential house buyers because this depends on a wide range of demographic, economic, financial and social factors. However, indicative statistical data, based on mortgage lending provided to the Department, suggests that in 2005 45% of mortgages for new houses, and 30% for second hand houses were taken...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: A new Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities which outlines key principles underpinning housing policy and investment over the coming years was launched last December. The framework proposes an integrated approach to housing in Ireland and firmly places housing policy in the context of building sustainable communities. The delivery of high quality housing for those who...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: Following the receipt of documentation requested from Cork County Council, which is responsible for the detailed administration of the voluntary housing scheme in its area, further clarification has been sought and is awaited. When this is to hand the application will be further considered by my Department and the Council will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The most recent assessment of need for social housing, which was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005, indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists compared with 48,413 households in March 2002, a decrease of almost 10%. More comprehensive data on the assessment at an individual local authority level will be published shortly in the Annual...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. The loan limit for the Shared Ownership Scheme was reviewed and increased with effect from 1 January 2006. The maximum loan that may be advanced by a local authority in respect of the share of the dwelling being purchased (minimum 40%) is €185,000. However, the cost of the dwelling may exceed this amount subject to the borrower's income...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (9 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I assume that the Question refers to housing by approved housing bodies with funding provided under my Department's capital loan and subsidy scheme. While there is no provision at present in the voluntary housing scheme for the purchase of individual houses by tenants, my Department indicated in the recently published document Housing Policy Framework, Building Sustainable Communities, that...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (9 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I assume that the Question refers to Part V agreements reached between developers and local authorities following negotiations under the Planning and Development Act 2000-2004 which requires, inter alia, that up to 20% of land zoned for residential developments or for a mix of residential and other uses, is to be reserved to meet social and affordable housing needs. Instead of the transfer of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The statutory assessment of housing need is undertaken by local authorities on a triennial basis. The most recent assessment of need for social housing was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005 with the previous assessment carried out in 2002. The results of the 2005 assessment indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists compared with 48,413...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), local authorities are providing accommodation for certain recipients of SWA rent supplement who have been assessed as having a long-term housing need. At end March 2006, 60,522 households were in receipt of rent supplement. The great majority of these are accommodated in private rented accommodation with the remainder residing in accommodation...

Written Answers — House Purchases: House Purchases (10 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not have a breakdown of new house completions by type of buyer. However, mortgage data provided by the financial institutions indicates that during 2005 first time buyers remained a strong presence in the housing market, representing approximately 45% of the new housing loans paid out in 2005. First time buyers have also a strong presence in the second hand housing market,...

Seanad: Electoral Register: Motion. (10 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the Seanad on electoral matters. The opportunity is welcome because it allows for a greater sense of reality to be brought to the debate on the electoral register. We all recognise that the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register needs to be improved and that it should be done as quickly as possible, and certainly before the next...