Results 2,281-2,300 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

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

Michael Finneran: In April 2010, my Department advised housing authorities of revised arrangements for the funding of land used for social housing and sought information from them on local authority residential land holdings for the purpose of ensuring the optimal use of the lands in question. In July 2010 Housing and Sustainable Communities Ltd. was established as a subsidiary of the National Building...

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

Michael Finneran: Following the transfer of land to Housing and Sustainable Communities (HSC) Ltd. under the land aggregation scheme, HSC Ltd. will be required to prepare a report, in consultation with relevant bodies, including my Department and the local authority concerned, to ensure the best use of the land from planning and value for money perspectives. A strategy for the management, utilisation,...

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

Michael Finneran: To the end of October, 2010, 30,008 household units have been transferred to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) from rent supplement. Of these, 16,696 were housed directly in RAS accommodation and a further 13,312 were accommodated under other social housing options. The current qualifying criteria for RAS are that a household must be in receipt of rent supplement, in general for a period...

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

Michael Finneran: The most up to date figures available show that at end December 2008 there were 118,396 dwellings let by housing authorities to social housing tenants. The average weekly rent for those tenants for that year was €46.85 and the total value of rents collected by housing authorities was €300,935,240.

Written Answers — Home Loan Schemes: Home Loan Schemes (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Since introduction of the Home Choice Loan Scheme in Budget 2008, 6 loans have issued. Of these 6 loan applications, 2 applicants were earning over €40,000, 1 as a single applicant and 1 as part of a joint application. To date 17 approval-in-principle recommendations have been made, and of these, 5 applicants were earning over €40,000, 2 as single applicants and 3 as part of joint...

Written Answers — Home Loan Schemes: Home Loan Schemes (25 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Local Authority variable interest rate, applicable since 1 November 2010, charged to borrowers, including mortgage protection insurance, is 3.3115%. The charge for mortgage protection is currently 0.5615%. Based on this rate, the annual cost of servicing a mortgage of €150,000 would be €7,895. The Local Authority five year fixed interest rate charged to borrowers, including mortgage...

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

Michael Finneran: I have no proposals at this time to amend the terms and conditions of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability.

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

Michael Finneran: It is the Government's intention to continue to meet the accommodation needs of as many households as possible within the resources available. The current oversupply of housing is a key factor in that regard, and there is potential to make economic necessity and the response to social need work in tandem by utilising unsold housing stock to accommodate families in need of social housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (30 Nov 2010)

Michael Finneran: Cosgrave Park, Moyross, is one of the estates included under the Limerick Regeneration Programme. Limerick City Council, in partnership with the Limerick Regeneration Agencies, is currently preparing a comprehensive plan for upgrading this estate. This will include a wide ranging upgrade of existing local authority stock, improvements to the public spaces and some strategic demolitions and...

Written Answers — Homelessness Strategy: Homelessness Strategy (30 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. Action to address homelessness is a matter for the housing authorities and the HSE, which, respectively, have statutory responsibility for providing accommodation and health...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department has, over the past number of years, overseen a significant exchequer investment in the improvement of heating systems and energy efficiency of the existing stock of local authority dwellings. Although central heating has been provided in all new local authority dwellings as a matter of course since 1994, there were an estimated 36,000 dwellings constructed prior to this date...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: A proposal to lease 25 houses in Carrigaline, Co. Cork was received from Cork County Council by my Department on the 19 November 2010. The proposal is currently under consideration in my Department in accordance with the terms and conditions of the initiative.

Local Government (Mayor and Regional Authority of Dublin) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank all the Deputies who spoke during this debate for their contributions. It is important that a measure like this, which is about strengthening the democratic process, should have the fullest possible consideration by elected representatives. A hallmark of this legislation has been the fact that it has been the subject of a very open and extensive process of consultation, particularly...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (2 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: As set out in The National Recovery Plan 2011 – 2014 our current economic circumstances mean that public expenditure has had to be substantially reduced across Departments, agencies and programmes. As a result there are now competing demands for very scarce resources from a range of genuine interests, and difficult decisions have to be taken. The priority in these circumstances is to...

Written Answers — Homelessness Strategy: Homelessness Strategy (2 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: I propose take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. I refer to reply of Question No. 242 of 30 November 2010 which sets out the position on meeting the Government's targets for tackling homelessness. The Counted In survey, which is a special purpose count of people using homeless services carried out in Dublin every three years since 1999 through the Homeless Agency, supported by my...

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (2 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: This is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport. In that context my understanding of the position is as follows. The agreed priority for local authorities during periods of severe cold is to keep the full national road network and other key strategic routes and public transport routes open for traffic. These roads carry an estimated 60% of total traffic and about 80%...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (2 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), households pay a contribution towards their rent to the local authority. The level of contribution is determined by the local authority by reference to each authority's Differential Rent Scheme, and will vary from authority to authority. Over time this contribution will vary to take into account changes in the income and family circumstances of the...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Responsibility for enforcing the regulations rests with the relevant local authority,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of housing to meet the accommodation needs for persons with specific categories of need, including older people, persons with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability, homeless persons, victims of domestic violence etc. All of the €145 million CAS...

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Michael Finneran: I am glad of the opportunity to comment and make some input into this debate. I am here to discuss the significantly reduced provisions for the Department for 2011. As the Minister, Deputy Gormley, has already outlined, the Department faces a combined cut across both capital and current spending of €595 million, equivalent to a 27% reduction on our 2010 provision. As the largest programme...