Results 2,261-2,280 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (16 Nov 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 local authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Private Residential Tenancies Board: Private Residential Tenancies Board (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The members of the Private Residential Tenancies Board are: Orla Coyne (Chairperson) Finian Matthews Aidan Brennan Cian Ó Lionáin Gene Feighery Dr Eoin O'Sullivan Aideen Hayden Thomas J Reilly Vincent P. Martin John Tiernan The Board's published accounts are available on its website www.prtb.ie . The Board is not in receipt of Exchequer grant-in-aid and its total expenditure for the...

Written Answers — Private Residential Tenancies Board: Private Residential Tenancies Board (17 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The retention or the incomplete return of tenancy deposits feature in a large portion of the disputes cases referred to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) and statistics in this regard are available in that body's 2009 Annual Report which is available online at www.prtb.ie . In November 2009 I announced the preliminary outcomes of my review of the Residential Tenancies Act...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Affordable housing is privately owned housing and, as such, is subject to the fluctuations of the market. Affordable purchasers are in the same position as other private purchasers who are in negative equity and for the great majority of homeowners negative equity will never be anything more than a notional loss in value. It is not intended to introduce a scheme on the lines proposed in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: For purposes of the shared ownership scheme, the redemption value of the outstanding local authority share, for transactions commenced from 1 January 2003, is based on its initial cost adjusted annually to compensate for differences between the rent paid on the local authority's share and the interest calculated by reference to the prevailing interest rates. The scheme is structured so that,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Decisions in relation to the matters in question, including criteria for prioritisation, are entirely a matter for each local authority and information on the average waiting time is not collected by my Department. Such extensions are funded from authorities Internal Capital Receipts (ICRs). In addition, having regard to the decline in the overall availability of ICRs, my Department's 2010...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Mortgage finance for affordable housing has traditionally been available from the local authorities backed by Housing Finance Agency lending. This continues to be the case. However, in recent times, Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank, the EBS, Irish Intercontinental Bank, First Active, Haven Mortgages and more recently Ulster Bank are now providing mortgage finance for affordable housing...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (23 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under Shared Ownership the rent charged on the equity stake held by the local authority is related to their borrowing costs from the Housing Finance Agency for the purchase of that equity. Borrowings drawn down are at prevailing interest rates. It is important to note that any difference between the rent and prevailing interest rate is reflected in the capital outstanding on the property....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: It is open to any person or household to apply to any housing authority for an assessment of their housing need. It is a matter solely for the housing authority concerned to determine whether an applicant for social housing support is eligible for and in need of that support in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of the Housing Act 1988 and having regard to the particular...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In February 2010 I approved funding of over €157m for a range of housing projects under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for people with specific categories of need. Approvals were largely based on the prioritisation afforded to individual proposals by local authorities. The project in question was placed eighth on the list of proposals submitted by Cork County Council. It...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (23 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The eLibraries website was set up some years ago as part of the Government's Information Society Action Plan, New Connections. The services provided by the website are now provided by the www.borrowbooks.ie website under the auspices of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna (ACL). The ACL website provides internet access to all local authority library catalogues and allows members to request...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Interest rates charged to local authority borrowers are determined by the Board of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). In determining these rates, the Board of the Agency gives careful consideration to the fluctuating relationship between the rates at which it can borrow and its lending rates. The HFA is required to operate on a break-even basis and continues to provide extremely good value to...

Written Answers — Severe Weather Events: Severe Weather Events (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In keeping with international best practice, Ireland follows a generic approach to emergency management, which is set out in A Framework for Major Emergency Management. This was approved by Government in May 2006 and details the processes and procedures for managing and co-ordinating preparedness for, and response to, severe weather emergencies. Each principal response agency (An Garda...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 192 together. 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...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: In accordance with the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, housing authorities are required to present, on the allocation of a tenancy to a household, a printed copy of the property's BER certificate and advisory report. Under current housing legislation, the BER rating of a property is not a reason for refusing an offer of social housing support from a...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Statutory responsibility for the making of agreements under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2007 rests with the relevant planning authority. Local authorities have been advised that where Part V agreements are in place but the development has not been completed, local authorities should, in the context of the proposed transfer of units, be satisfied that the development...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. Record exchequer allocations totalling almost €80m were notified to local authorities under the schemes on 5 March 2010, giving a combined allocation of almost €100m. It is...

Written Answers — Land Aggregation Scheme: Land Aggregation Scheme (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 193 together. Applications totalling some €83 million from seven housing authorities and the National Building Agency have been received by my Department. It is difficult, however, to determine the exact value of the loans that will be approved for inclusion in the scheme, as the amount recouped will depend on a number of factors, including whether...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: As suggested in the Joint Oireachtas Committee's report, I have asked my Department to complete its own review of the severe weather events as soon as possible. This report, which is close to finalisation, draws on information provided to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and addresses a wide range of issues emerging from the co-ordination of response to...

Written Answers — Private Rental Accommodation: Private Rental Accommodation (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: I have no function in operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), as it is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. However, dispute resolution statistics are published as part of the annual report of the PRTB and are available on their website at www.prtb.ie In November 2009 I announced the preliminary outcomes of my...