Results 3,101-3,120 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (14 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993. Responsibility for enforcing the regulations rests with the relevant housing authority. In September 2006 I announced a comprehensive Action Programme to promote improvement in standards of private rented accommodation and work on this is...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Grant aid for the renewal or repair of thatched roofs of houses continues to be provided by my Department, subject to certain conditions being met. Application forms and scheme details have been forwarded to the person concerned.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: In July 2004, my Department introduced a special programme for the installation of central heating in local authority rented dwellings. Local authorities were advised that the choice of heating system and associated improvements in thermal insulation was a matter for determination by the authority with reference to, the expected capital and running costs, including servicing and management...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: There are no specific grants available from my Department or local authorities for the removal of asbestos in housing. There are, however, a number of targeted options currently available to assist especially vulnerable groups such as lower income households and elderly persons to secure necessary improvement works to their houses. These include the local authority house improvement loan...

Written Answers — Mortgage Protection Scheme: Mortgage Protection Scheme (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Mortgage Protection Scheme for local authority loans is common to local authorities and has applied to all house purchase loans approved by authorities on or after 1 July 1986. One of the conditions of the scheme, which is a group policy, is that it is obligatory for all local authority borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria to join. Altering this condition would have a negative...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Details of the number of social and affordable housing units completed in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown over the ten years to 2005 and for the 9 months to end September 2006 have been published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library, or on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. The main strategy for delivery of the Government's social and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (20 Feb 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 operated through projects managed by voluntary bodies. My Department has not to date received specific proposals from South Tipperary...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The group in question was awarded Dormant Accounts funding of €129,010 by the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board under the initial round of funding. The grant was to fund a youth worker, administration and programme costs over a two-year period. My understanding is that this funding will expire at the end of the summer this year. Deputies will appreciate that the Dormant Accounts...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (21 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The information sought by the Deputy is available on my Department's website www.pobail.ie at: http://www.pobail.ie/en/Community VoluntarySupports/CommunitySupportforOlder People/

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (21 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Traveller specific accommodation scheme at Labre Park consists of 30 units of three and four bed, single storey houses and a small community building. I understand there is also an unauthorised encampment adjacent to the Labre Park scheme consisting of some 16 units, including mobile homes and modular prefabricated buildings. An area to the west of the site has been subject to illegal...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Details of the revised housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability were announced recently as part of the new housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. The revised schemes are based on the outcome of the review of the Disabled Persons Grant scheme which was recently completed within my Department. The review also incorporated the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Under the tenant purchase scheme special conditions apply to the occupancy and disposal of a tenant purchased house. These conditions require that the dwelling must be occupied as a normal place of residence by the purchaser or by a member of the purchaser's family, unless the local authority otherwise allows. In addition, the first resale of houses sold under the tenant purchase scheme...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department will be scheduling this property for final inspection very shortly.

Written Answers — Property Management: Property Management (27 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Management companies, consisting of the owners of dwellings, are generally constituted under the Companies Acts and are required to operate in compliance with company law, which comes within the area of responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Determination of management fees is primarily a matter for the management company. My Department does not have a role in...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (27 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Details of the revised housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability were announced recently as part of My Department's new housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. The revised schemes are based on the outcome of the review of the Disabled Persons Grant scheme which was recently completed within my Department. The review also...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 184 and 576 together. There are a number of social housing options available to households who cannot meet their own accommodation needs. The main options are social rented accommodation provided by local authorities, by voluntary and co-operative housing bodies or under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). A statutory assessment of housing need is...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (27 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: New arrangements for the planning and delivery of social and affordable housing programmes based on housing strategies were put in place by my Department in 2004 through the introduction of five-year housing action plans. These action plans identify priority needs and provide a coherent and coordinated response to those needs across all housing sectors, including the voluntary and...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (27 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department publishes quarterly house price data compiled from returns from the mortgage lending institutions. The average new house price in the July to September quarter 1997 was €123,537 in Dublin and €104,146 nationally. In the second quarter of 2006, the most recent period for which complete returns have been received from lending financial institutions, the average new house price...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Survey: Radon Gas Survey (27 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: It is intended to commence an audit of the social housing stock, including an assessment of radon concentration levels, later this year. Funding will be made available to local authorities to undertake the survey. The question of future funding will be addressed when the results of the survey are available.

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (27 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 were signed on 19 December 2006. Copies of the Regulations have been placed in the Oireachtas Library.