Results 421-440 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I can only report back to the Minister on what the Senator is saying about the expenditure review that is currently taking place to see if one more application can be considered after the deadline. However, there is still a large list of applications from 2000 that are at various stages of planning. It would seem that it will be some time before others are seriously pushed up the list....

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: Was this a meeting to overcome the fact that the application was late?

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: Are the minutes of this meeting available?

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (26 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I will speak to the Minister.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Costs. (27 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. The Government's water services pricing policy framework, which was adopted in 1998, requires the recovery of average operational and marginal capital costs of water services from the users of those services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. The cost of water services provision is increasing hugely. This is...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Costs. (27 May 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Senator is right that there will be charges for sewerage services in future. However, I do not believe they will be at the level the Senator mentioned. Government policy is that people must make a contribution towards the services they use. I am not sure whether the Water Services Bill has completed its passage through this House. It has not reached the Dáil yet. Yesterday I mentioned...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: My Department approved South Dublin County Council's proposals in July 2003 for the refurbishment of houses situated in RAPID areas. This approval allows refurbishment of 100 houses at Cushlawn Park, 100 houses at Shancastle and Greenfort Estates and 113 houses at Moorefield Estate under my Department's remedial works scheme at an estimated cost of over €8.6 million. While there are no...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: Dublin City Council is responsible for enforcing the Housing Rent Books and Housing Standards for Rented Houses Regulations 1993 in cases such as this. I have therefore referred the matters to that authority for investigation of a possible breach of these regulations. Any contract, whether verbal or written, entered into between the persons and the estate agent in question would be subject to...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: An inspection, with a view to payment of the grant if in order, will be carried out as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Development Programme: Local Development Programme (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board engaged Area Development Management Limited to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf, which involves the disbursement of up to €30 million from the fund. An invitation to organisations, groups, etc., to make applications for funding was advertised in the national press on Friday 21 November 2003. The closing date for receipt of...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (1 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: This Government is committed to tackling the problem of drug misuse and will continue to do so. This is evidenced through the continued implementation of the 100 actions in the national drugs strategy and the substantial funding that has been made available over the past few years to support the work of the local drugs task forces and the young people's facilities and services fund. Under the...

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: I welcome this opportunity to clarify the Government's thinking regarding stage payments. We share many of the concerns expressed by Senators Coghlan and Brian Hayes, particularly those relating to the needs of consumers. This Government has made it a priority to tackle the housing market and, in particular, to support first-time buyers. We want to ensure that home purchasers benefit from...

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: It will take some months, perhaps to the end of the year, to conclude the examinations that are taking place.

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: If the other routes to which I referred do not lead to potential success, I will support the legislation if we decide it is the only route to take. I suggest a period of approximately six months to see if the other routes are successful. I agree with the basic idea in the legislation. I find it difficult to disagree with what Senator Coghlan and others in the House to whom I spoke recently...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: I welcome the opportunity to introduce this Bill to the House.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: I wish to inform Senators that this issue comes under my area of responsibility within the Department.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: I am not replacing the Minister because the issue comes under my area of responsibility. Modesty prevents me from saying much more.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: I know everyone in the House welcomes the use of unclaimed moneys for the betterment of the less well off in our society. Such good work for the public good must continue, which is exactly the intention of the Bill. There is, of course, always more that could be done. In this context, the increase of €30 million in the amount the current board may spend on programmes and projects, as...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: The purpose of the dormant accounts fund, as set out in existing law, is to assist persons who are socially, economically or educationally disadvantaged, and persons with a disability. This will remain unchanged. There has been considerable public debate as to the purpose and impact of the Bill. There are compelling reasons, both in terms of governance and public policy, as to why legislation...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2004)

Noel Ahern: Members should be aware of the emerging scale of the fund, which currently stands at €222 million. The scale of such moneys, held in public trust, requires commensurate corporate governance arrangements to support and oversee disbursements.