Results 3,841-3,860 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: On 16 June 2011 I launched the Government's new housing policy statement which will serve as a framework for a series of legislative and policy initiatives in the short to medium term. Based on a number of fundamental principles and goals that will form the foundation of a substantial reform programme, the new framework for housing policy responds to current and emerging conditions in the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: I refer to the reply to Question No. 144 of 13 July 2011 which sets out the position in this matter. Proposals continue to be progressed through the work of the interdepartmental steering group and working groups.

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department has no function in relation to the operation of property management companies. The Multi Unit Developments Act 2011 which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, regulates the management and operation of such companies. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets out more generally the obligations of landlords and tenants in the broader private...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department is not aware of any anomalies regarding applications for social housing on medical grounds. However, my Department is aware that the wording on the new social housing application form, which mentions 'consultants reports', may give rise to difficulties in some cases. In June 2011, my Department issued advice to local authorities that a consultant's report is not essential in...

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Dublin Docklands Development Authority was established both to secure the social and economic regeneration of the Dublin Docklands area on a sustainable basis and to secure improvements in its physical environment. Since its establishment in 1997, the Authority has overseen the urban regeneration of the Docklands area into a vibrant city quarter, realising considerable achievements in...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department gathers aggregate data on enforcement activity from planning authorities, including data on the number of warning letters issued under Section 152 of the Planning Act and the number of enforcement notices issued under sections 154 and 155 of the Planning Act together with the number of prosecutions initiated on foot of these enforcement notices. The most recently available data...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: The provisions of Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effect of certain public and private projects on the environment (the EIA Directive, as amended in 1997 and 2003) were transposed into Irish legislation by the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended). Schedule 5 of the 2001 Regulations specifies...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. Under the shared ownership scheme houses are acquired by a local authority and leased to shared owners, who purchases at least 40% of the value of the house and rents the remaining equity from the local authority. The local authority finances the transaction by borrowing from the Housing Finance Agency. The shared owner must purchase...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 to 108, inclusive, together. On 16 June 2011 I launched the Government's new housing policy statement which will serve as a framework for a sequence of legislative and policy initiatives in the short to medium term. Based on a number of fundamental principles and goals that will form the foundation of a substantial reform programme, the new framework for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: Detailed data are being finalised and I expect to be in a position to release the statutory Housing Needs Assessment figures for 2011 shortly. The total number of households on the local authority waiting lists nationally, the "net need", amounts to just under 100,000 households. The Government's new housing policy statement, launched in June 2011, will serve as the framework for a sequence...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: No funding restrictions have been placed on local authorities for the purposes of providing loan finance for house purchase or home improvement. Allocations totalling over €51m issued to local authorities for House Purchase and House Improvement lending in April 2011, an increase of almost €20m (or 61%) on the 2010 allocation of almost €31m. These allocations represent borrowings...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2009 provides for an incremental purchase scheme in respect of newly – built houses reserved by housing authorities for the purpose. Regulations to implement the Incremental Purchase Scheme for new homes were made in June 2010. The scheme is available to all housing authorities. I am not aware of any completed purchases to date under...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: I have established and am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. The Committee is meeting on a regular basis with the aim of publishing a report on progress achieved within the next 12...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department's involvement with voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority. Under the terms of the Capital Loan and Subsidy...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: My Department received e-mail correspondence from Sligo Borough Council on 30 August 2011 in connection with the proposed improvement works to O'Connell Street together with copies of motions adopted by the Borough Council relating to these works and traffic management arrangements locally. The Council also advised that only the planning and design phase of the proposed works to O'Connell...

Written Answers — Deposit Protection Scheme: Deposit Protection Scheme (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. My Department conducted a review of the Act in 2009 with a specific emphasis on whether it best supports the PRTB's key functions and whether legislative amendments would support the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB in the delivery of those...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: Tenant purchase schemes are open to applications from eligible tenants in accordance with the relevant regulations and the terms of the schemes adopted by individual local authorities. The eligibility criteria for the schemes do not exclude recipients of carer's allowance nor any other category of applicant by reason solely of their occupation or their being in receipt of social welfare...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: I thank Senator Clune for raising this important issue. The Senator will be well aware that a key objective of the programme for Government is to get people back to work. This is being reflected in policy and programme development across all Departments, agencies and local authorities and will continue as a key priority over the coming years. Local authorities, including in their role as...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: The guidelines were there, but the updated guidance will be issued shortly to the local authority and, hopefully, that will clarify the issues.

Seanad: Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (20 Sep 2011)

Willie Penrose: The Minister is away on Government business and cannot be here. Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta, MFG, is an independent company with its own board of management and memorandum and articles of association which has responsibility under company law for the proper stewardship of the company. My Department has no role in the internal operations of local development or partnership...