Results 2,761-2,780 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, there are four different schemes, namely the shared ownership scheme, the 1999 affordable housing scheme, the Part V scheme and the affordable housing initiative.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: It is. The Deputy may have meant to ask about Part V, but he asked for the number of affordable houses, which is 1,100.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: Last year, for the full year there were 2,900. Those figures can be broken down if the Deputy wishes. Unfortunately, one of the ploys used is to consider the four different schemes and only refer to figure of output for one of them. In the first six months for affordable houses under Part V, which is one of our schemes, there were 367 units. I do not have the output for social housing,...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: As the Deputy said, since 2002, cash represents one method by which a developer can fulfil his legal obligations under Part V. As we discussed last week, up to the end of June â¬38 million was contributed in that way. I made it clear last week and do so again today that without these cash payments 12% or 14% would be added to the output. It is not a case of cash representing half of the...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: No, it is not. If there was no cash it would add approximately 12% to 14% to the number of units delivered. If it were 616, taking the Deputy's figure for the first six months, it would increase by that amount, which is not radically different.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: On other measures, the big initiative will be the affordable homes partnership that we launched a number of months ago. There are calls for lands and I expect announcements very soon. That partnership has been working with private developers to bring forward land that was previously not zoned or lands whose zoning has been amended. There will be announcements covering the greater Dublin...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 42 together. My Department provides capital funding through local authorities to approved housing bodies which provide accommodation in accordance with the terms of my Department's schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing. Funding is no longer a constraint on progress as far as implementation of the voluntary and co-operative housing programmes are...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: At political level, we receive requests all the time to introduce tenant purchase schemes in the voluntary housing sector. The Deputy is correct that some large organisations are strongly opposed to it. Last December, we stated in our policy document that we would instigate a pilot scheme pertaining to tenant purchase in a small number of new schemes. This must be done in consultation....
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: I try to communicate that message to colleagues in the House. They may not be members of councils any more but at least they have links with them.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: The Deputy may have a point. Members of the Oireachtas still have links with councillors and we try to communicate with them when travelling around the country. Some phenomena never cease to amaze me. I met a delegation from a particular local authority not so long ago which was looking for more money for the authority's programme. I outlined the facts to the delegation and was rather...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: We hope to initiate a pilot tenant purchase scheme to see how it will operate. I can well understand why the voluntary housing body would still want to control an estate and be responsible for the green areas therein. I see merit in this because its input and commitment might decrease if it were only looking after half the estate. I am sure it would be possible to have some sort of scheme...
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: I hear what the Deputy is saying.
- Social and Affordable Housing. (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: I was not speaking about Kildare on that occasion. I was referring to a case further afield.
- Written Answers — Rental Accommodation: Rental Accommodation (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is a collaborative project between the Department, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, local authorities and the Health Service Executive Community Welfare Division. In order to finance the funding of the transfer of households in the SWA rent supplement scheme with long-term housing needs to RAS, â¬19 million was provided to this Department's...
- Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: The Law Reform Commission is currently examining legal aspects generally regarding the management of multi-unit structures and a consultation paper is expected to be finalised shortly. Following the consultation period, a final report will be prepared and its recommendations will be considered by the Departments concerned, including the need for any new measures to be taken in this area. The...
- Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: The review of the Disabled Persons Grant scheme, which incorporates the conditions governing the Essential Repairs Grant scheme and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly scheme has been finalised within my Department. I am very much aware of the importance of the efficient operation of the Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant schemes in assisting with the provision of appropriate...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: Tenant purchase schemes are administered by local authorities as part of their overall housing management functions, having regard to the relevant legislation, regulations and the schemes adopted by individual local authorities. My Department has no function in relation to the administration of schemes at local level. Circular 7/2005 of 28 November 2005 requested local authorities to review...
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: At end June 2006, 601 units of voluntary housing accommodation were completed with a further 2131 in progress. This compares with 548 units completed with a further 2016 in progress for the same period in 2005. The voluntary and co-operative housing sector has an important contribution to make in the provision of social housing. By working in close partnership with local authorities, it...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 337 together. There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. However, it was provided under Housing Policy Framework â Building Sustainable Communities that consideration would be given in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to pilot a tenant purchase scheme for...
- Written Answers — : (8 Nov 2006)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 67 and 72 together. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is designed to cater for the accommodation needs of persons in receipt of rent supplement who have a long-term housing need. It is a collaborative project between my Department, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Health Service Executive. RAS operates in all...