Results 461-480 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (13 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: National house condition surveys have been undertaken every 10 years since 1981. In 2001/2002 the exercise was carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute on behalf of my Department. A decision has yet to be taken on proceeding with another such study in 2011. However, a House Condition Survey of the local authority rented stock is due to commence in 2009 and will form part of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department does not collect data in relation to the income of individual applicants under the shared ownership scheme. However, under the scheme, a graded subsidy towards the rental element of the property is available to shared ownership purchasers whose household income in the preceding tax year is €28,000 or less. The number of households availing of this subsidy to date in 2008 is...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (18 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is designed to cater for the accommodation needs of persons in receipt of rent supplement who have a long-term housing need. As indicated in the table which follows, in the period to end-September 2008, over 15,800 households eligible for the scheme were transferred from rent supplement to...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (18 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Approved housing bodies are eligible for an annual grant in respect of the operational and maintenance costs associated with accommodation provided under my Department's Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme. In accordance with best practice, approved bodies should provide a sinking fund to deal with operational and maintenance issues, including the undertaking of minor adaptations and...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (18 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. In May 2008, my Department notified Galway County and City Councils of combined capital allocations of €1,820,130 and €1,049,490 respectively for the operation of these...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department is responsible for funding accommodation and related costs for homeless persons and the Health Services Executive is responsible for funding care related costs. The information requested in relation to costs of emergency accommodation is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The default option for satisfying Part V remains the transfer of a proportion of the land which is the subject of the planning application. Accordingly, agreement of a financial contribution to satisfy the Part V condition is in lieu of a percentage of land and not in lieu of housing. Where the Part V agreement is to be satisfied by means other than the provision of land on-site, the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The latest date for which figures are available is 31 December, 2007. Returns indicate that 2,414 dwellings within the local authority social housing stock were vacant for more than 3 months, not including those vacant because of planned refurbishment. When dwellings vacant due to planned refurbishment are included, the total figure is 5,046.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The local authority mortgage protection insurance scheme is overseen by the Mortgage Protection Committee which is a sub-committee of the County and City Managers association, CCMA and is representative of the CCMA, local authorities, the Housing Finance Agency and my Department. The Committee recently held a tender competition with a view to putting a new scheme in place from 1 January 2009....

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The House will have an opportunity to debate this matter when we discuss section 10. I commented on this matter on Second Stage and I stated that I am satisfied that the current statutory definition of homelessness which is contained in the 1988 Act is sufficient. We will carry out a review of the definition for operational purposes. Furthermore in the context of developing a new...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I made my comment on this and we will have further opportunity to discuss this matter as we progress through the Bill. This is the best way forward.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is required to provide explicitly that a Minister has the power to revoke or amend a general policy direction issued under this section. This provision would be particularly important where policy is changed after the appointment of a new Minister. A similar provision exists in planning legislation, in section 29(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is required to correct references in section 7 to columns in Schedule 1 which specify that the short title of a Bill is to be replaced and the extent of the repeal. Section 7 as it stands refers to columns 2 and 3 of Schedule 1 where it should refer to columns 3 and 4.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The purpose of section 10 is to provide a summary of the main functions of the housing authorities and to act as a lead-in provision to the requirement to make housing service plans as provided for in sections 14 to 18. While I appreciate the objective of the proposed amendment, it would not have the impact envisaged by the Senator. It could oblige an authority to put in train arrangements...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Section 10(a)(iv) lists sales or consents to sales under Part 3 of the Bill, that is, the incremental purchase scheme as a housing support forming one of three specific elements of the housing services provided by the housing authority under the housing Acts. However, the social housing support is also listed in section 10(a)(i) as a form of housing support and elements of the social housing...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: Ba mhaith liom a rá leis an Seanadóir Doherty go bhfuil an leasú i mBéarla agus mar sin beidh an freagra i mBéarla. In its new homeless strategy, the Government has decided that the statutory definition of homelessness will not be changed. However, we will review how the definition is applied operationally, for example, to ensure consistency in its application across local authorities....

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I would never be so bold as to describe Senator Norris as elderly.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I will address the last question first. Senators are aware of the strategy on homelessness, but it is not worth the paper it is written on unless there is an implementation plan with a statutory back-up. That is the process I am involved in at the moment with all the stakeholders and it is our definite intention to publish the plan before the end of the year. We want to implement it, which...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: It is 1988. I accept that.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: I do not accept that the definition of homelessness in the 1988 Act is inadequate. It is very clear and deals with people who live in temporary or insecure accommodation. Much is covered. There is always a danger in tying down definitions that it may not work the way one wants it to. The implementation of the homeless strategy is what is important. We have a statutory framework in the...