Results 341-360 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 to 398, inclusive, together. A new Government strategy on homelessness, The Way Home: A Strategy to Address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008 — 2013, was published in August 2008. The strategy builds on the strong progress made under previous strategies and sets out a vision to address adult homelessness over the next five years. The strategy...

Written Answers — : (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The information requested relating to recoupment to local authorities for current funding for accommodation-related costs for homeless services is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible. In relation to capital funding, through my Department's main social housing investment programme and the Capital Assistance Scheme for voluntary and co-operative housing bodies,...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Information to end March 2008 on the numbers of shared ownership transactions in each local authority area is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Information is also published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Loan finance of €220 million, from the Housing Finance Agency, was available in each of...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 317 together. The Government's new strategy The Way Home: A Strategy to address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013 sets out a comprehensive framework within which the complex range of issues involved in meeting the Government's objectives in relation to homelessness can be addressed. Since 2000, over €620 million has been provided for homeless...

Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Under the Government's new homeless strategy The Way Home: A Strategy to address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013, a review of the operational definition of homelessness is to be carried out by the end of 2009. The Homeless Agency is currently working with the Centre for Housing Research to develop a position paper regarding a common operational definition for the Dublin area. This...

Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Government's new homeless strategy The Way Home: A Strategy to address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013 sets out a comprehensive framework for tackling the issue of homelessness. One of the key strategic aims of the strategy is to ensure that an adequate supply of housing is made available to meet the long-term housing needs of homeless persons. The Rental Accommodation Scheme...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: To assist local authority tenants purchase their homes, a discount of 3% of the market value of the house is allowed for each year of tenancy, up to a maximum of 30%. In addition to this, a further discount of €3,809 is provided. Thus, a local authority house with a market value of €140,000 would be available for purchase at some €94,200 by a tenant of ten or more years' standing. By...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Members for their kind words on my return to the House, after having spent so many years here. I also thank Senators for their contribution to the debate on Second Stage, for their attendance during the debate and for their supportive comments on the legislation. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 is a milestone in the development of housing policy, not only in terms...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: No. As Minister of State with responsibility for housing, I am saying it is a good idea. We do not need to legislate for everything. I will encourage interaction between local authorities and ministerial offices. We can consider the introduction of regulations or statutory instruments if they are needed. It is common sense to suggest people should be assessed at an early stage to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Yes. That does not mean people cannot be assessed.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: We have a responsibility to provide for early assessment. The housing grants schemes were mentioned by a number of Senators. Demand under the adaptation grants scheme has accelerated this year. Annual expenditure on the scheme has increased from €13 million to €71 million over the past ten years. There has been a major increase in activity. Some 74,000 grants have been paid under the...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (9 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. The revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability introduced in November 2007 provide a more targeted and integrated response to the housing needs of older people and people with a disability. To announce the launch of the revised suite of grant schemes, my Department placed notices in the...

Seanad: Grant Schemes (9 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senator McFadden for giving me an opportunity to speak about the operation of the housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability. The Government is aware of the critical role the adaptation grant schemes play in the context of an overall continuum of care for older people and people with a disability. Following a comprehensive review undertaken by my...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (14 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 to 252, inclusive, together. The latest published comprehensive figures for homelessness are derived from the 2005 Housing Needs Assessment, and details of the number of homeless households in each local authority in 2005 are published in the Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on my Department's website...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 275 together. A tenant purchase scheme for local authority houses has been in place for many years. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, which was presented to the Seanad on 23 July 2008, did not include provision for the tenant purchase of local authority apartments as it was not possible to resolve the complex issues involved in time...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Under section 9 of the Housing Act 1988, local authorities are required to carry out an assessment of the overall need for social housing on a triennial basis. The latest assessment took place in March 2008 and results, including those in relation to homelessness, will be finalised and published as soon as possible. The most recent available figures for homelessness relate to 2005. The...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities. The last assessment took place in 2005 and indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists. 1,301 of these households were on waiting lists of housing authorities in County Mayo; further information is available on my Department's website at...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (14 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Affordable housing is made available at below the market price for comparable housing for those who, under normal circumstances, could not afford to buy their own homes. A clawback provision is in place to protect the State's interest in the house and to ensure that there is no short-term profit taking on the resale of an affordable house. The legal provisions relating to affordable...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 67 together. Details of the inspections of rented accommodation carried out in 2007, the dwellings inspected which did not meet the statutory standards, and prosecutions initiated are included in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on my Department's website at www.environ.ie....

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department has no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), which is an independent statutory body established under the terms of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The PRTB may be contacted at their offices at O'Connell Bridge House, Dublin 2 or by telephone or email. Contact details are available on the Board's website at www.prtb.ie.