Results 361-380 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department is very much aware of the critical role that the Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for Older People and People with a Disability play in the context of an overall continuum of care. The revised suite of grant schemes, implemented in November 2007, streamline the administrative and operational procedures governing the schemes, providing a more targeted and integrated response to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: As previously indicated to local authorities, requests for additional funding under the Housing Adaptation Grants Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are dealt with in the context of the reallocation of any surplus resources arising elsewhere. In this context, my Department has advised all local authorities to monitor their expenditure under the Schemes carefully. Requests...

Written Answers — Stage Payments: Stage Payments (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Shortly after the publication of my Department's housing policy statement, "Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities", an agreement was reached between my Department and the Irish Home Builders Association whereby the practice of stage payments that operated in a limited number of areas of the country would not apply after 30 June 2007. This agreement was given effect by way of a new code of...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The allocation and payment of revenue funding to approved housing bodies in respect of the provision of care and related tenancy supports is a matter for the Health Service Executive.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The functions of the Private Residential Tenancies Board are, at present, outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and the Ombudsman Act 1980. The Board commenced operations in September 2004 and has made considerable progress since then. It is my intention that the Board, subject to exemptions that recognise its quasi-judicial functions, should come under the scope of the...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: He is showing no respect for the Chair.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I wish to share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Billy Kelleher. As we are all only too well aware, the events of the last few weeks in the international financial markets are without precedent in modern times. The prevailing economic and fiscal environment is more adverse than any we have faced for many years. As the Minister for Finance made clear yesterday, across all areas of...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: ——by ensuring we are clear about the areas of greatest priority that have to be the focus of our attention in the period immediately ahead. In short, dealing with a recession does not mean we have to stop trying to build a fairer society. Even in difficult and uncertain times, there are certain priorities which must always remain at the top of the political agenda. When we speak in...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: ——we must always be mindful that for the most vulnerable in our society, the phrase book of recession rings hollow if front line services on which they depend are seriously compromised. Our focus in shaping the overall financial provision for housing in 2009 is on utilising available resources in a way which will most benefit those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting...

Schools Building Projects. (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the position with regard to the application for large-scale capital funding from Forgney national school. The school has a staffing of a principal, one mainstream teacher and a shared resource teacher. The school's...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Action to deal with anti-social behaviour is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána. Landlords are, however, responsible for enforcing the obligations that apply to their tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004. The Act, in this regard, prohibits a private rental tenant engaging in anti-social behaviour in, or in the vicinity of, a dwelling to which the Act applies and allows...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department has already supported a pilot phase in relation to this scheme at Ballylynch Housing Estate. The Council has submitted, in September 2008, proposals for an extensive remedial works project, based on the pilot phase. These proposals will be considered under the new call for proposals for remedial works schemes for funding in 2009; the closing date for receipt of applications is...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: A Project Brief together with a request for funding approval for the planning and design stage of this 20-house project, which has an overall cost of €4.8 million, was received from Louth County Council on 17 July, 2008. The proposal is being examined by my Department at present and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: As I indicated to the House last week during the debate on Budget 2009, it is important that the ongoing process of correction in the housing market is not artificially interfered with. Given that sentiment in the housing market is heavily dependent on wider sentiment in the economy, the Government's approach is focused on the broader economic fundamentals and ensuring, ultimately, that the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: A person occupying a house under the shared ownership scheme has the right to buy out the local authority's share and acquire full ownership at any time. Alternatively, this may be done by purchasing, from time to time, additional shares of the authority's equity. The cost of purchasing an additional share or the redemption value of the outstanding share, for transactions commenced from 1...

Written Answers — Rented Dwellings Register: Rented Dwellings Register (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Failure to do so is an offence, subject, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (21 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Since the enactment of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act in 1998, local authorities have adopted two successive Traveller accommodation programmes. In the course of the first programmes, covering the five-year period 2000 to 2004, some 1,371 additional Traveller families were provided with permanent, secure accommodation. This included some 586 units of Traveller-specific...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (22 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. As signalled by the Minister for Finance in Budget 2009, a new single streamlined Government Equity scheme is to be introduced in relation to affordable housing. Under this new arrangement the purchase transaction will be largely unchanged from the affordable purchaser's perspective. However, instead of units being sold at a discounted...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: In 2008 my Department allocated almost €7 million to support the operation of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies, mainly for the development of the regeneration master plans and for social inclusion measures. Within the overall funding available to my Department for the provision and improvement of social housing for 2009, funds will be provided to advance the planning of the Limerick...

Housing Market. (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 13 and 50 together. As indicated during the debate on budget 2009, it is important that the ongoing process of correction in the housing market is not artificially interfered with. Given that sentiment in the housing market is heavily dependent on wider sentiment in the economy, the Government's approach is focused on the broader economic fundamentals and...