Results 2,241-2,260 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Sports Capital Programme (10 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Neville for the opportunity to outline the current position on the Kilmallock sewerage scheme. My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, includes a contract for the procurement of a new waste water treatment plant under the Kilmallock sewerage scheme to advance to construction during the period of the...

Voluntary Housing Associations (10 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this item as it affords me an opportunity to once again confirm this Government's commitment to working with the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. I would like to begin by reflecting on the successful relationship to date between my Department, local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative sector. Since the 1980s, we have together overseen...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 341 and 343 of 9 November 2010 which sets out the position in regard to access to housing supports.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for tenant purchase, along incremental purchase lines, of apartments in designated existing local authority complexes. I expect to make the necessary statutory instruments early in 2011 to enable the apartment sales scheme to be brought into operation as quickly as possible thereafter.

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. As a general guide, local authorities should always comply with the requirements set out in national and EU procurement guidelines. The Department of Finance has responsibility at central level for the preparation of procurement guidelines for public bodies. My Department's role is to ensure that such guidance is brought to the attention...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In June 2009 I announced the establishment of a single housing agency - the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA), as a rationalization of existing Agencies in the housing sector. In May 2010 the Agency was established on an administrative basis. It is intended that HSCA will be given full legislative underpinning next year. It is not proposed that any specific housing functions...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: For some time now the social housing investment programme has been undergoing a significant restructuring to shift the focus increasingly towards more flexible delivery mechanisms, including through the introduction of long term leasing arrangements, with a lesser reliance on construction and acquisition. This is in line with the reform agenda clearly set out under the Government's housing...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities in accordance with the terms of the Housing Act 1988 and involves local authorities assessing all households on their waiting lists, to determine whether they are/remain eligible for and in need of social housing support. The social housing reform programme, which was given legislative effect...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together. My Department monitors activity and expenditure across all programmes on an ongoing basis to ensure productive spend and value for money for the resources invested. In the area of housing a number of procedures are in place. The specific allocations for each authority are informed by both the level of contractual commitments for the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The voluntary and co-operative housing sector are valued partners in the delivery of social housing solutions for low-income families and persons with specific categories of housing need including older people, persons with a physical, intellectual or mental health disability, homeless persons and elderly returning emigrants. To date, over 25,000 units of accommodation have been provided...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Government's key priorities in shaping the overall housing provision have been to focus the impact of necessary budgetary adjustments on the areas in which there is scope to maintain output through more flexible approaches and where the policy context supports such approaches, and to continue to direct available capital resources substantially towards the most vulnerable and...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The annual total of tenancies' registration charges collected by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) over the past three years is as follows: Year Registration fees collected(€ million) 2007 6.15 2008 7.89 2009 8.39 This information is set out in detail in the published Annual Reports and Accounts of the PRTB which is available on the Board's website at www.prtb.ie .

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (11 Nov 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 — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (16 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Question Nos. 305 and 306 together. The majority of households who purchased under the various affordable housing schemes would have done so using loan finance from a private lending institution. These are essentially private homeowners and my Department does not therefore collect data in respect of the performance of such mortgages. The Government has put in place a range...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (16 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The core objectives of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) are to reform the approach towards providing accommodation within the private rented sector for long-term dependents on rent supplement and to enhance the response of housing authorities to meeting long-term housing need. Funding for the RAS is provided by a transfer of monies from the Department of Social Protection's (DSP) Vote...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which came into operation on 14 June 2010, the making and amendment of an allocation scheme for social housing is a reserved function of the elected members of each housing authority. Section 22(11) provides that the allocation of a dwelling under an allocation scheme is an executive function of the manager of the housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In the early part of 2009 local authorities had an estimated 3,700 unsold affordable housing units on hands. Very considerable progress has been made on both the sale of affordable housing and the deployment of unsold affordable homes for other purposes, including temporary use under the social leasing or RAS schemes. As of now, there are approximately 640 affordable units available for sale...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 205 and 222 of 3 November 2010, which sets out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (16 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In early July 2010 I announced approval of a new two year Capital Programme for Public Libraries 2010-2011, amounting to €7.3 million in 2010, which will contribute towards the development and refurbishment of a range of public libraries throughout the country. I also announced that, subject to public finances being available in 2011, a new library in Ballinasloe, Co.Galway, would receive...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (16 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department is awaiting information from Dublin City Council on a number of design and costing issues for the project in question. As with all Social Housing Investment Programme projects, it will be a matter for the housing authority, in this case Dublin City Council, to progress this proposal in accordance with the usual conditions, and to manage its delivery in the context of its...