Results 2,121-2,140 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the local authority. An outline proposal has recently been received from Galway...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: Despite the current challenges facing the public finances, my Department continues to prioritise and support the voluntary and co-operative housing sector as it addresses housing need across the country, and in particular as it meets the needs of individuals and groups with special needs. In addition to the broad programme of Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) projects already under...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: Probationary tenancies are not currently available under the existing legal framework. Local authority tenancies are given on a weekly basis. Section 29 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for the prescription of different forms of tenancy to be used by housing authorities, including whether tenancies are for a periodic or fixed term. This section has not yet been...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: I announced details of a new programme of Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) projects in January 2010. This ambitious programme, consisting of 64 new projects, was identified following consideration of each proposal received, the relative priority afforded to the projects by the local authorities concerned and the competing demands across all local authorities. At that time, the project in...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Sustainable Communities Fund was established as a key deliverable under my Department's statement on housing policy Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities with the objectives of supporting initiatives that would improve quality of life in regeneration areas, promoting social inclusion by meeting equality, diversity, and special needs, and facilitating better management of local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: The local authority mortgage protection insurance scheme is overseen by the Mortgage Protection Committee which is a sub-committee of the County and City Managers Association (CCMA) and is representative of the CCMA, local authorities, the Housing Finance Agency and my Department. Participation in the mortgage protection insurance scheme is compulsory for local authority house purchase loans...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Sep 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. The administration of the various affordable housing schemes, including the allocation of affordable housing, is a matter for each local authority. Generally speaking, the schemes are for the benefit of first...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1494 and 1495 together. Social housing allocations by local authority for the period 2007-2010 are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie under Publications/Statistics and Regular Publications/Housing Statistics.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: The information sought in relation to the Social Housing Investment Programme is set out in the table below. In relation to the expenditure to date in 2010, it is important to note that expenditure tends to be back-ended in any given year. 2006 2007 2008 2009 Spent to date – 2010 B.1 Capital B.1.1 LA Housing 858,694,000 941,273,000 979,728,785 690,536,343 117,990,180 B.1.2 CAS...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: The PRTB was established in 2004 and has as its key functions: (a) the operation of a national registration system for all private residential tenancies; (b) the operation of a dispute resolution service; (c) the provision of information, carrying out of research and the provision of policy advice regarding the private rented residential sector. Local authorities, supported by a dedicated...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) provided information to consumers, brokers, estate agents and developers through a variety of media including the internet and local and national newspapers. Any costs arising have been met from existing resources within the AHP.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: Regulations and guidelines for housing authorities in relation to differential rent are currently in preparation in my Department. Once section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which provides for rent schemes and charges, has been commenced, housing authorities will have one year in which to put in place a new differential rent scheme. In that context, it is envisaged...

Written Answers — Homeless Agency Staff: Homeless Agency Staff (29 Sep 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Homeless Agency does not operate directly under the aegis of my Department and its staffing is thus a matter, in the first instance, for Dublin City Council. My Department is aware that the staff complement of the Agency was 15 in 2007 to 2009 and 13 in 2010. The core objective of the National Homelessness Strategy is to eliminate long term homelessness and the need to sleep rough by end...

Announcement by Minister for Finance on Banking of 30 September 2010: Statements (Resumed) (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: There will be no need to resurrect The Irish Press.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. A total of 103 repossessions have taken place across all local authority areas during the period 2005 to end-June 2010. This includes 40 voluntary repossessions or abandonments. The following table provides a breakdown of repossessions by each local authority for the period 2005-2009 and for January to June 2010. Repossessions during...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department has fully supported this project over the past number of years, and gave approval to Fermoy Town Council in April 2009 to sign contracts to commence construction. However, in April 2010 the Town Council notified my Department that it would not be proceeding with the contract as the preferred tenderer had gone out of business. At the request of the Town Council, my Department...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Preparatory work is underway to bring Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which provides for tenant purchase of apartments in designated local authority complexes, into operation. I expect to make the necessary statutory instruments early in 2011 to enable the apartments sales scheme to be introduced as quickly as possible thereafter. The new apartments scheme will be...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (5 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department's role is one of supporting and assisting fire authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (7 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department has been in regular contact with Kildare County Council in connection with this project, which has been approved to progress under the Towards Carbon Neutral programme. Budget approval was given in April 2010 with a view to the Council progressing this project to planning. My Department is committed to the early advancement of this project as part of the Towards Carbon Neutral...

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (7 Oct 2010)

Michael Finneran: Approval in principle for the project in question recently issued from my Department, subject to the receipt of further information from Kildare County Council on a number of issues. This information is awaited from the Council.