Results 21-40 of 2,023 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The statutory regulations governing the operation of the disabled persons grants scheme and the accompanying guidance circular were formally issued to local authorities in December 2001. The framework for the operation of the scheme is laid down in the regulations which, as far as practicable, are designed to give an appropriate degree of flexibility to local authorities. A review of the...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Subject to the conditions of the new house grant scheme, which was terminated as and from 14 November 2002, a grant may be approved where a contract to purchase or to build a house was entered into or, in the case of a "self build" house, the foundations were poured on or before 14 November 2002 and the application for the grant was received in my Department on or before 4 December 2002. In...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 the provision of accommodation for Travellers, including the provision of transient halting sites, is a matter for each housing authority concerned. My Department has not received a proposal from Kildare County Council in relation to the provision of a transient Traveller halting site.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The letting of local authority housing is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with its scheme of letting priorities which is drawn up and adopted at local level. It is understood that local authorities do not accept applications for housing from applicants living outside the State. To qualify for housing here in Ireland applicants must be prepared to take up residence in...

Written Answers — Voluntary Housing Scheme: Voluntary Housing Scheme (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The following table sets out the names of the approved housing bodies which have been assisted under the terms of my Department's voluntary housing capital assistance scheme, as amended in November 2001, in providing accommodation in which units of accommodation have been made available to returning elderly emigrants. Table Aghamore Voluntary Housing Association Aras Mhuire Housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Guidelines issued by my Department to local authorities on the preparation of their schemes of letting priorities indicate that, inter alia, a scheme should normally contain a provision to enable a local authority to cater for transfers by tenants to and from other local authorities on conditions mutually agreed between the local authorities. My Department has no role in transfers by tenants...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: An application for further supplementary funding under the capital assistance scheme for this project was received on 6 January 2004. Wicklow County Council, which is responsible for administering the scheme in its area, has been requested to provide necessary additional details. On receipt of all the required information, the local authority will be advised of the outcome.

Written Answers — Local Government Act: Local Government Act (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The results of the statutory assessment of local authority housing need, which was undertaken by local authorities in March 2002, indicated that a total of 48,413 households were in need of housing. Detailed information on the results of the 2002 assessment was published in my Department's September 2002 quarterly edition of the Housing Statistics Bulletin, copies of which are available in...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. Information on activity under the affordable housing schemes for each local authority is published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514, 516 and 517 together. It is a matter for each local authority to administer house purchase loans in its area, having regard, as appropriate, to the housing needs and circumstances of their area. The income limit for eligibility for the shared ownership scheme and other house purchase loans is €32,000 for a single income household, with a pro rata...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Government affords a high priority to housing issues as evidenced by the range of policies and measures employed by my Department and other public agencies involved to ensure that the broad spectrum of housing needs is appropriately met. We have placed a strong emphasis on increasing housing supply to meet demand, particularly for first-time buyers, against a background of unprecedented...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The scheme of grants for locally-based community and voluntary organisations provides once-off grants which benefit voluntary and community groups who focus on tackling poverty and disadvantage and enhancing community development. Under the scheme, funding is available for: training, education or research initiatives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of local communities and voluntary...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board published its first disbursement plan on 7 November 2003. The plan sets out the board's priorities and provides for the distribution of funds to assist programmes or projects targeting three broad categories of persons — those affected by economic and social disadvantage, those affected by educational disadvantage and persons with a disability....

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (10 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, all relevant local authorities adopted five year Traveller accommodation programmes covering the period 2000-04. The provision under these programmes of new Traveller specific accommodation and the refurbishment of existing Traveller specific accommodation which includes halting sites and group houses is funded under my Department's...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The amount of funding provided by my Department to local authorities for the improvement works in lieu scheme since the inception of the scheme in 1991 is set out in the following table: Year 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Amount 0.085 0.269 2.539 2.939 1.921 2.896 3.809 5.564 4.377 4.945 5.790 8.760 8.333 Information relating...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Safe Home Programme Limited obtained approved status under the Housing Acts from my Department in January 2002. Safe Home assesses applications from elderly emigrants for accommodation under the amended terms of my Department's capital assistance scheme and compiles a list of eligible applicants. It liaises with relevant voluntary bodies throughout the country and with local authorities...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (10 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 291 of 5 November 2003. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (10 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 313 of 1 October 2003, which set out the position on the funding of central heating in Dublin City Council housing stock. Apart from the specific programmes outlined such as for remedial works, area regeneration, re-development and so on, there is no specific funding mechanism available from my Department at present for the installation of central heating...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (10 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: A grant of €812,632 was approved to this trust for the provision of accommodation under the voluntary housing capital assistance scheme in July 1987. However, as no application for payment was subsequently received, the grant was withdrawn.

Written Answers — Disabled Persons' Grants: Disabled Persons' Grants (10 Feb 2004)

Noel Ahern: Details of the capital funding being provided for the disabled persons grant scheme will be made available in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2004 which will be published shortly. Notification of capital allocations for the payment of disabled persons grants in 2004 will issue to local authorities as soon as all authorities have submitted details of their expenditure on the scheme...