Results 3,081-3,100 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The income criteria used to determine eligibility for affordable housing do not distinguish between different categories of employment from which income may be derived. Accordingly my Department has not been made aware of the existence of an anomaly as referred to in the Question.

Written Answers — Local Authority Schemes: Local Authority Schemes (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: A review of the Disabled Persons Grant scheme, which incorporated the conditions governing the Essential Repairs Grant scheme and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly scheme, has been completed within my Department. Proposals for the future operation of the schemes will be announced shortly in the context of a new Housing Policy Statement.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Government have approved the drafting of the Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006. The drafting of the Bill is being advanced as quickly as possible and it is expected that it will be published by early summer this year.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Following detailed discussions between my Department and a number of the main financial institutions, Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank, the Educational Building Society and IIB Homeloans Ltd have introduced mortgage finance products for persons wishing to access affordable housing. The introduction of these products followed the finalisation of agreements between the institutions concerned and...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Local authorities are responsible under the Housing Acts for the management and maintenance of their housing stock and the management of their estates, including taking appropriate measures in relation to anti-social behaviour. Authorities have extensive powers under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 to deal with the problem of anti-social behaviour. In fulfilment of...

EU Directives. (8 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings was adopted on 16 December 2002. The transposition date was 4 January 2006. However, Article 15 of the directive allowed for an additional period of three years, up to 4 January 2009, for transposition of Article 7 which requires the building energy rating, BER, certification of new and existing buildings where they are being offered...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (8 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Mortgage Protection Scheme for local authority loans has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities on or after 1 July 1986. Under the scheme, the cost of mortgage protection insurance is met by way of an additional charge, currently 0.598%, to the rate of interest charged on individual loans. One of the conditions of the scheme, which is a group policy, is that...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Government have 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 and it is expected that it will be published by early summer this year.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (13 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: At my request, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drug Strategy Team (NDST) recently prepared a joint briefing paper on cocaine, based on existing data in Ireland. The paper, which is due to be published in early March, concluded that all data sources indicated an upward trend in cocaine use. A number of recommendations are made in the paper, principally in...

Written Answers — Registered Charities: Registered Charities (13 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: There is currently no register of charities. I understand, however, that An Taisce appears on the list of organisations which have obtained exemption from payment of certain taxes from the Revenue Commissioners and that this list is sometimes referred to as a register of charities. However, I have no role in relation to this list. As the Deputy will be aware, in line with a commitment in the...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (13 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: In 2001 my Department approved the use of €190,000 (£150,000) internal capital receipts for flood relief works and for the erection of boundary walls at Marion Estate, Newport, Co Tipperary. It is understood that the flood relief works have been carried out and that North Tipperary County Council are currently in consultation with the NBA with regard to the remaining works. Under the...

Written Answers — Homelessness Strategy: Homelessness Strategy (13 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Independent Review of Implementation of Homeless Strategies, published last year, examined the implementation of the Government's Integrated and Preventative Homeless Strategies and concluded that they should be amalgamated and updated. The Government have accepted the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Review and work is underway on the preparation of a revised and updated...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (13 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations 1991 sets out the requirement for fire safety in the construction of new buildings, extensions and material alterations or change of use carried out after June 1992. The Building Control Regulations 1991 require that all buildings containing apartments/flats constructed after June 1992 must obtain a fire safety certificate. Buildings...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (13 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department intends to publish its new statement on housing policy, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, later this week. Copies will be available from the Oireachtas Library and from my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Under my Department's Remedial Works Scheme, Wexford Borough Council submitted a proposal for refurbishment works for apartments at John's Gate Street and John Street. My Department requested further information from the Council to enable consideration to be given to the application. On receipt of this information from the Council a decision will be made on the matter.

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (13 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Following an inspection of the property in December 2005, my Department requested the applicant to submit certain documentation with regard to compliance with Part M of the Building Regulations. Part of the required documentation was received in May 2006 and the applicant was further requested to address some specific issues with regard to Part M in November 2006 and January 2007. A report...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (14 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Capital funding is provided to approved housing bodies which provide accommodation under my Department's voluntary and co-operative housing schemes. My Department's involvement with the schemes relate primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the schemes, the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the schemes and the payment...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 601 of 21 November 2006. The proposal as submitted will be discussed with the local authority as part of the Housing Action Plan process.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Each local authority calculates the local authority housing rents payable in its area in accordance with a differential rents scheme adopted by the elected members and taking account of guidance issued by my Department. My Department's circular letter HRT 12/94 requests local authorities in circumstances where tenants' income is increased as a result of participation in the Community...

Written Answers — Sheltered Housing: Sheltered Housing (14 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department approved the invitation of tenders for this project on 5 May 2006. Further consideration will be given to this project on receipt of an application for funding from Kerry County Council.