Results 3,041-3,060 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (14 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. The requirement that local authorities make a contribution from their own resources towards the financing of the scheme has been considered in the context of the overall...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2006)

Noel Ahern: Fingal County Council has submitted a proposal to my department in respect of a Remedial Works Scheme to Mourne View Estate in Skerries. This proposal is currently under examination.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: As I advised the Deputy in a previous reply, the recommendations arising from the Blanchardstown Dial To Stop Drug Dealing Campaign are being considered by the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST). Such consideration would cover possible time defined campaigns targeted at specific areas in both Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas. The NDST have recently been in contact with all Drug...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: An application in respect of the Community Centre in question under the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) was received in November 2006 from Blanchardstown Local Development Group. However, the Development Group subsequently contacted the Department to advise of their intention to withdraw their current application and to submit a revised one, focusing more particularly on...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: In line with the strategy of focusing funding to the Community Development Projects themselves, with a consequent reduction in core funding to training and support agencies, my Department's contract with the group in question ceased on 31 December 2006. The decision not to renew the contract was communicated to the group in September 2005.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations, which is operated by my Department, includes a scheme under which funding towards the purchase of equipment is provided to eligible groups who are addressing disadvantage in their communities. This is an annual Programme of Grants and the closing date for applications in respect of the purchase of equipment...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1785, 1803, 1837 and 1839 together. The Government has approved the drafting of the Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006, which provides, inter alia, for the sale of local authority apartments to tenants under certain conditions. The drafting of the Bill is being advanced as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: Data on the number of house completions in County Meath from 2002 to 2005 are available in the Housing Statistics Bulletins which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. I have very recently announced completions data for 2006 and these included 3,746 housing completions in County Meath in 2006. The county data are based on the information...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1800 and 1801 together. The number of social housing dwellings completed and acquired by local authorities in 2006 to the end of September, including Meath and Westmeath County Councils, are available on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. The figures for the full year 2006 are currently been complied by my Department and will be published in due...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: Information on activity under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006 up to end September 2006, including payments in lieu of land transfers, is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. A breakdown of the number of houses provided under the various affordable schemes in each local authority area up to end September 2006 is also available on this website....

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: Property management companies are generally constituted under the Companies Acts and are required to comply with the provisions of company law. Their membership consists of apartment owners themselves and in some cases nominees of the developer. Rights and obligations of property owners in relation to management companies, arise from company law provisions and also from private contracts...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: I have no proposals to introduce a scheme requiring local authorities to purchase privately owned houses which were purchased under the discounted terms of the tenant purchase scheme or otherwise. The issue of the purchase of a private house, including one which had previously been in the ownership of a local authority, and which the local authority may intend to add to their housing stock,...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: The requirement for a clawback is necessary to ensure that there is no short-term profit taking on the resale of houses provided under the various affordable housing schemes at a discount from market value. There are no plans at present to alter the clawback arrangements under the existing schemes. The clawback arrangements that might apply in relation to any additional initiatives for the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department recoups to local authorities 90% of their approved current expenditure on the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Much of this expenditure is operationalised through projects managed by voluntary bodies. My Department has not to date received specific proposals from any of...

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: The recent papers by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the Law Reform Commission are welcome and contain valuable information and recommendations in relation to property management companies and multi-unit developments. Both papers are currently subject to a public consultation process and the need for measures to be taken in this area, including any legislative...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: Registration of tenancies is a matter for the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). My Department has no indication from PRTB of a failure by landlords to register tenancies due to concerns about tax liability. I understand that there has been a steady increase in the number of tenancies registered with the Board since its establishment and that further increases have resulted from a...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: South Dublin County Council's revised scheme of letting priorities was approved by my Department in December 2006.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: Cork North County Council submitted proposals to my Department in April 2006 for funding to undertake a remedial works scheme at the estate in question. My Department has issued approval in principle to the Council to proceed with the scheme but has requested additional information to enable further consideration to be given to the proposal. It is my Department's intention to convey its...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1840, 1851 and 1910 together. The administration of the Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant schemes is a matter for the local authorities within the framework laid down in statutory regulations which, as far as practicable, is designed to give an appropriate degree of flexibility at local level. Local authorities are encouraged to operate the schemes...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (31 Jan 2007)

Noel Ahern: NDP 2007-2013, which was launched last week, announced a €18 billion investment programme in housing over the next seven years. This programme sets targets of 60,000 new units of social housing together with some 40,000 affordable homes to be delivered over the plan period. In addition, further households will benefit under contractual arrangements with landlords for existing properties...