Results 2,961-2,980 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Local Authority Housing. (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has proposed that managing agents answer to the regulator dealing with estate agents. Mortgage brokers are already under the financial regulator and the data protection office. Several Departments are involved with management companies, including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment when some management companies do not fill...

Local Authority Housing. (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I was not at home last night and I did not see the programme. I will try to view it this week. Nobody gave me a tape of it this morning. Questions were previously asked about the media monitoring service, of which I am aware. We have acted on the issue of unfinished estates.

Local Authority Housing. (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Deputy Gilmore is stretching the question a bit.

Local Authority Housing. (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy moved on a bit from that. I did not get to one part of the original reply and I am afraid that the Deputy might misinterpret the data I gave him.

Local Authority Housing. (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The information given was complete and thorough, but it did not include acquisitions. Local authorities buy approximately 1,000 units per year. If one were trying to make an accurate comparison between the numbers in social housing ten years ago and today, one would need to allow for the acquisitions. However, we could not give that figure because of the way the Deputy asked his question....

Local Authority Housing. (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Okay. However, the number has risen from 30,000 to 60,000 in ten years. If the acquisitions and the number of private houses on rent allowances are factored in, things would be different.

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: 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. Funding is provided by the Department to local authorities to meet the cost of the scheme, including accommodation costs, through the transfer of resources from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The level of rents payable...

Written Answers — Residential Tenancies Board: Residential Tenancies Board (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The functions of Private Residential Tenancy Board under the Residential Tenancy Act 2004 include research and the provision of information and policy advice in relation to the private rented sector. The PRTB is in the process of developing this role alongside its core functions of dispute resolution and tenancy registration. For this purpose, it has entered into a partnership arrangement...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 545 together. The statutory assessment of housing need is undertaken by local authorities on a triennial basis. The most recent assessment of need for social housing, undertaken by local authorities in March 2005, indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority waiting lists compared with 48,413 in March 2002. In the context of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Earlier this year I announced a record level of funding for the voluntary and co-operative capital schemes. I also substantially increased the capital funding limits for individual housing projects. Funding is also provided by my Department to approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies towards administrative and operational costs. My Department, in consultation with the voluntary...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: The voluntary and co-operative housing sector has an important role in the provision of social housing. By working in close partnership with local authorities, it supplements the social housing effort in areas where particular housing needs have been identified. It is supported by my Department through two separate funding schemes, the Capital Assistance Scheme and the Capital Loan and...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (12 Dec 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, was recently finalised within my Department. Proposals for the future operation of the schemes are being prepared and are expected to be announced early next year in the context of a new Housing Policy Statement.

Written Answers — Homelessness Policy: Homelessness Policy (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 109 together. I have noted the recent launch of the MakeRoom campaign by Focus Ireland, the Simon Communities of Ireland, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Threshold. The stated aim of the MakeRoom campaign is to end homelessness by 2010 and in this context indicates this to mean "nobody will sleep rough; nobody will stay in emergency accommodation...

Written Answers — Residential Tenancies Board: Residential Tenancies Board (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is a matter for the Private Residential Tenancy Board to keep the effectiveness of their operations and the adequacy of their resources under review. There is no request with my Department from the Board at present for additional operational funding or staff. A request was, however, received from the Board this week for a grant to fund the fitting-out of proposed new office accommodation...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is anticipated that the revised social housing design guidelines will be published in early 2007.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 120 together. Local authority housing construction and improvement works programmes, including planned maintenance, regeneration and remedial works are discussed with each local authority as part of the preparation and review of their Housing Action Plans. Arising out of this, authorities may seek Exchequer support for improvement works under a number...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 511 together. The maximum loan which may be advanced by a local authority for social and affordable housing schemes is €185,000 and subject to this limit, a loan of up to 95% of the price of the house may be made available. It is a matter for local authorities to determine the amount on the loan in each case up to the limit and subject to the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Development contributions allow local authorities to recoup some of the costs to public funds of servicing land for private development. Without them, this servicing could not proceed or the full cost would have to be borne by the taxpayer. They are also a way of recouping some of the "betterment", which local authorities add to the value of land when it is serviced. Under the Planning Acts,...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Cork County Council advertised for expressions of interest from consultants on 22 September 2006, for the preparation of the relevant documentation required for the Part 8 planning process, and for the preparation of cost plans, tender documentation and the construction contract in respect of the site at Darrara. Following a shortlisting exercise, further details on prices and proposals have...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Cumulative expenditure under the local authority housing measure of the NDP will reach some €5 billion at the end of 2006 which is 13% ahead of NDP forecast. While output levels have been less than anticipated, more than 31,000 local authority houses will be completed or acquired by the end of the programme period. The shortfall in achieving targets can be attributed largely to higher than...