Results 3,241-3,260 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The proposal as submitted was discussed with the County Council at the recent Housing Action Plan meeting. Arising from those discussions, my Department has recently written to the Council, requesting clarification on a number of issues. My Department will further consider the project on receipt of the Council's revised proposals.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The proposal as submitted was discussed with Tipperary (S.R) County Council at the recent Housing Action Plan meeting. Arising from this it was agreed that the Council would carry out and submit a feasibility study, setting out the overall objectives of the regeneration project, the strategic and social plans for the area and a schedule of specific works. My Department is due to meet with...

Seanad: Local Government. (3 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The enhancement of the role of the elected local authority member has been a fundamental objective of the ongoing local government reform programme. Key features of the programme include the introduction in 2004 of a single electoral mandate for local government to underline the unique role of local government and the distinctive representational role of councillors; the strengthening of the...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (3 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Senator Browne for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity to outline to the House the issues in regard to the provision of speech and language therapy and occupational therapy services in the Carlow area. Demand for speech and language therapy and occupational therapy in...

Schools Building Projects. (4 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, I will update the House on the proposed new primary school for Scoil Bhride in Kill, County Kildare. Last November, the Department announced details of 72 primary schools and eight post-primary schools that were given the go-ahead to proceed with major works such as new school building projects, extensions or refurbishments. The proposed...

Turbary Rights. (4 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I am answering on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Roche. Carn Park and Crosswood Bog were designated as special areas of conservation in December 2002. SACs are the prime wildlife conservation areas in the country. They are important on both a European and national level, and must be protected for future generations. Both these bogs comprise raised bog, which is a rare habitat in the EU...

Turbary Rights. (4 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy already made reference to my upbringing and I apologise.

Turbary Rights. (4 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I appreciate the impact the cessation of turf cutting at the end of 2008 will have on turbary right owners in these and other SAC designated bogs. In view of that impact the previous Minister agreed in 1999 that domestic turf cutting could be permitted on less sensitive areas of bogs designated as SACs for a period of up to ten years. This was to allow cutters the opportunity to make...

Irish Language. (4 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I understand Deputy Deenihan's desire to raise an issue of particular interest to the people of the town and of the Corcha Dhuibhne Gaeltacht. The Minister's placenames order of December 2004, issued under the Official Languages Act 2003 and covering in excess of 2,300 placenames, had the effect of changing the placename of Dingle to An Daingean. Under the 2003 Act, there are three contexts...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (4 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Doolin sewerage scheme, which is being advanced as a grouped project with schemes for Ballyvaughan and Corofin, is approved for funding in the Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005 — 2007. The estimated cost of the schemes is €17.5 million, the vast bulk of which the Department will be funding. Doolin is one of more than 20 schemes being put in place to provide...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (4 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to my answer to his previous question of 20 March 2007. The Group referred to by the Deputy made an application to my Department under the Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations. Notification of the decision on this application has issued recently to the Group, outlining the reason for the decision and providing contact details...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (4 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Relevant legislation prohibiting the unauthorised placing of temporary dwellings on land and coming within the ambit of my Department is contained in the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1948 and the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 as amended by Section 32 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 and Section 21 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002....

Social and Affordable Housing. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Output from Part V has been increasing in recent years according as general housing activity has expanded and planning permissions which predated the implementation of Part V have been increasingly built out. From a position in 2002 where just 46 homes were delivered, provisional data indicate that 1,600 affordable homes and approximately 600 social homes were delivered under Part V in 2006....

Social and Affordable Housing. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Last year's output is considerable, if one looks at the figures over five years — 46, then 163, 600, just under 1,400, and 2,200. That is a considerable increase. Part V does not apply and was never intended to apply to everything.

Social and Affordable Housing. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: It does not apply to one-off housing. While there is very little one-off housing around the Dublin area now, approximately 26% or 27% of housing in the country is one-off housing. It increases as one gets further from Dublin. It does not apply to small developments of under five units, nor does it apply to unzoned land. Zoned land is still a peculiarity around the big urban areas. As one...

Social and Affordable Housing. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: It could, but that is not the purpose of Part V. In many areas houses are not unaffordable. The affordability problem is in the greater urban areas. The 2001 Act related to zoned land on the basis that that was where the affordability problem lay and where there was a demand for affordable homes. There is probably only another year or so of planning permissions that got approval before...

Social and Affordable Housing. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The loan limits have been adjusted several times. They are usually adjusted every year. It may be time to look at them again. Raising income limits for loans sometimes simply means that a different category of people qualify for the loans and the houses become more expensive. However, I will check those limits. It may be time to make another adjustment. I accept that very small...

Social and Affordable Housing. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: There are a number of social housing options available to households who cannot meet their own accommodation needs, in particular, 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 undertaken by local authorities on a triennial basis. The most recent...

Social and Affordable Housing. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I have given Deputy Gilmore the figure from the housing needs assessment.

Social and Affordable Housing. (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: That is the official method of calculating housing data. There is no total figure such as the Deputy requires.