Results 401-420 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Housing authorities conduct their triennial housing needs assessment in accordance with Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988. Prior to any assessment being carried out my Department issues guidance to housing authorities, in the form of a circular, to ensure a consistent assessment approach. It is a matter for individual authorities, in accordance with legislation and having regard to guidance...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: 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 price, with the value of the discount being subject to...

Written Answers — Housing Regeneration Schemes: Housing Regeneration Schemes (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: 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 Regeneration Scheme, to meet the costs of the Regeneration Agencies, to facilitate a number of households wishing to move in line with the overall regeneration strategy, and for related matters. The full allocation...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: 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. It was developed under the aegis of a Cross Departmental Team, which comprises...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The information in question was provided by my Department to the Department of Social and Family Affairs based on information obtained from housing authorities. I understand the majority of these, both in 2007 and 2008, were accommodated in local authority housing, with the remainder accommodated in voluntary housing. Housing authorities are responsible for accommodation and related services...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 194 together. My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the schemes, including the detailed appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that projects...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 191 and 194 on today's order paper. Over recent months, voluntary and co-operative housing bodies have benefited greatly from the increased delivery of social housing under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in most local authority areas, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area. Given...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My letter of 22 October 2008 to the Deputy in response to Question No. 498 of 7 October 2008 gave details of current funding recouped to each local authority by my Department under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 for the period 1999 to 2008 (to date) in respect of accommodation and related services for homeless persons. My Department's allocation for section 10 funding for homeless...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together. To date over 15,800 households eligible for the Rental accommodation Scheme (RAS) have been transferred from rent supplement to accommodation provided by local authorities, either to RAS directly or to some other type of social housing. Of the 15,800 transfers to date, 8,313 of these households were accommodated directly under the RAS in...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Based on figures supplied to my Department by local authorities at the end of 2007, the average weekly Rental Accommodation Scheme costs are as follows: Unit Size Average weekly cost € 1 Bed 115.71 2 Bed 153.04 3 Bed 169.34 Tenants under the Rental Accommodation Scheme pay a contribution towards the rental costs in line with each local authority's differential rents scheme.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. I understand from Dublin City Council that this project will go to tender before the end of this year.

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Local authorities are responsible for meeting the accommodation needs of homeless persons. It is consequently a matter for individual authorities to determine the level of emergency accommodation to be provided, having regard to the need for such accommodation within their areas. The number of persons and households living in accommodation that is designated as emergency fluctuates from time...

Written Answers — Home Choice Scheme: Home Choice Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205, 216 and 219 together. Home Choice will be available to first time buyers of new houses, subject to a maximum loan of €285,000, depending on income, and a maximum loan to value ratio of 92%. The loan term will be up to 30 years. A minimum income of €40,000 will be required and a detailed credit policy is now being finalised. A single standard...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (23 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 212 together. I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in relation to the electronic voting and counting project. In this, I am taking into account the detailed work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need to maintain public confidence in the...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (29 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department's Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, which is administered by local authorities, provides targeted support to improve conditions in the existing housing of older people. The types of works which may be grant aided under the Scheme are varied and may include the provision of insulation works. In addition, older people living in local authority housing may benefit from the...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (29 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department gave approval to Dublin City Council to proceed with this project, in January 2008, to be funded from the authority's internal capital receipts. Accordingly, the City Council included the project under its 2008 Improvement Works Programme. I understand that the tender documentation is currently being prepared and the project will be advertised shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (29 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Dublin City Council received approval from my Department to undertake planned maintenance works at the two locations in question as part of its 2007 Improvement Works Programme. While no further proposals have as yet been received, I understand that the City Council is examining options for additional works to these flat complexes.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 478 of 21 October 2008. For Shared Ownership transactions commenced from 1 January 2003, the cost of purchasing an additional share or the redemption value of the outstanding share is based on its initial cost adjusted annually to compensate for differences between the rent paid on the local authority's share and the interest calculated by reference to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Oct 2008)

Michael Finneran: Local Authorities are responsible under the Housing Acts for the management and maintenance of their housing stock and the management of their estates. The requested information on evictions is not available in my Department. It is proposed to commence collection of such data on an annual basis from the end of 2008.