Results 3,181-3,200 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Support for Older People: Support for Older People (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The purpose of the Scheme of Community Support for Older People is to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. This Scheme is open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance and it is administered by community and voluntary organisations throughout the country...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 229, inclusive, together. The majority of current expenditure allocated to community groups through my Department for drugs initiatives is channeled through the Local Drugs Task Forces (including the Emerging Needs Fund), the Regional Drugs Task Forces and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. The combined current expenditure on these in 2006...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Dormant Accounts legislation provides for an annual transfer by credit institutions and insurance undertakings of monies in dormant accounts into the Dormant Accounts Fund. Since the establishment of the Fund in May 2003, a total of €373.2 million has been transferred, of which €112.6 million has been reclaimed. At this juncture, it is difficult to estimate what the inflows to the Fund...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department supports the Safe Home Programme which aids returning Irish emigrants in securing social housing supports where they are eligible for them. Under an amendment made to the terms of my Department's voluntary housing Capital Assistance Scheme in November 2001, up to 25% of accommodation in new projects provided throughout the country by individual voluntary housing bodies with...

Written Answers — Home Improvement Grants: Home Improvement Grants (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: There are no specific grants available from my Department or local authorities for energy retention improvements to homes. However, Sustainable Energy Ireland, under the auspices of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, operates a Low Income Housing Programme. This was set up to help establish and implement a national plan of action to address the problem of fuel...

Seanad: Traffic Calming Measures. (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senator Dooley for raising this matter. I accept traffic control is an important issue which could contribute so much to the quality of life in residential developments. Providing homes to people in sustainable communities is at the heart of the Government's policy as set out in the new detailed housing policy statement launched recently. The Government's policy includes a strong...

Seanad: Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme. (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and will respond to it on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan. The social welfare code already provides for payments to former mine workers who suffered a loss of faculty arising from their employment as miners. Disablement benefit, payable under the occupational injuries benefit, OIB, scheme, is a compensation...

Seanad: Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme. (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I do not know as I am only answering on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. I am aware that this is a burning issue, as are public representatives in the area in question. As the Senator stated, the Taoiseach met the concerned parties. I have not been briefed other than to say meetings took place. I do not know if there is any action or movement in another direction. I...

Seanad: Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme. (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Senator knows that until a decision is agreed, standardised and processed, one gets a standard reply from the Department. I do not know anything other than that the Taoiseach met the miners, and other public representatives have raised the issue recently. I am not aware of what is happening behind the scenes.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (1 Mar 2007)

Noel Ahern: The processing of the approximately 1,300 applications received by my Department under this Programme is ongoing and I recently announced the first tranche of funding. The group referred to by the Deputy is not amongst those so far processed, however, I will be announcing further allocations of funding under this Programme in the coming months and I expect that, following completion of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Mar 2007)

Noel Ahern: Under my Department's Remedial Works Scheme, Sligo Borough Council submitted a proposal for refurbishment works to the estate in question. My Department has requested further information from the Council to enable consideration to be given to the proposal. On receipt of this information from the Council a decision will be made on the matter.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Mar 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department provides funding for projects such as the one that the Deputy refers to, through the Programme of Grants for Locally Based Community and Voluntary Organisations. This Programme supports the activities of locally based community and voluntary organisations by way of three Schemes: the Scheme of Refurbishment Grants; the Scheme of Equipment Grants and the Scheme of Training,...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (6 Mar 2007)

Noel Ahern: An application to the Dormant Accounts Fund has been received from the organisation in question. Due to a misunderstanding, there was a delay in processing this application, however, at this stage processing is well advanced. The applicant has been advised of the position.

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (6 Mar 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department recently met with Longford County Council as part of the Housing Action Plan Process for 2007. It is now a matter for the local authority to forward a programme of improvement works to the Department to enable the making of allocations for 2007.

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

Noel Ahern: The administration of the various affordable housing schemes, including the allocation of affordable housing, is a matter for each local authority. Local authorities are required to draw up a scheme of allocation priorities based on broad criteria set out in legislation. As the making and amendment of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority my Department has no role in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Mar 2007)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 569 of 27 February 2007. The position is unchanged. It is a matter for the local authority to determine in particular cases whether the cost of external works on private houses in local authority estates should be financed, up to the possible maximum of 50%, from their Internal Capital Receipts.

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

Noel Ahern: Information to end September 2006 on the number of housing units provided under the various affordable housing schemes in each local authority area is published in my Department's Quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library, and also on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. While final data for the final quarter of 2006 are not yet...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Mar 2007)

Noel Ahern: Up to the 31 December 2006, nearly €1.3 million has been expended in respect of the regeneration of the Cranmore Estate out of an allocation of €1.8 million. The Council's proposal to refurbish vacant houses in the estate, on which approximately €500,000 has been spent to date, is currently underway. My Department is actively engaged with the local authority in scoping the regeneration...

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

Noel Ahern: Capital funding is available through my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme to approved voluntary housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet special housing needs, such as the elderly, homeless or persons with disabilities. My Department's involvement with the scheme relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, and the...

Written Answers — Housing Statistics: Housing Statistics (8 Mar 2007)

Noel Ahern: Data on the number of houses built by type of dwelling for each year from 1997 to 2005 are published in the Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas library or on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. Since 2005, the type of dwelling classification has changed, and my Department is now provided with the number of individual houses, scheme houses (two or...