Results 5,221-5,240 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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

Phil Hogan: While the majority of the fixed rate mortgages drawn down in the early 1980's were charged rates at around 10.5% - reflecting local authority and Housing Finance Agency (HFA) cost of funds – during 1984 the fixed rate charged to new local authority borrowers went as high as 12.95%. As with all other rates charged, this rate reflects the long-term costs of funds to the HFA prevailing at the...

Written Answers — Building Control Act: Building Control Act (15 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 to 412, inclusive, together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 108 of 3 November 2011 which comprehensively addressed the issues regarding the registration of the title of Architect. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has been designated as the registration body for persons wishing to use the title of architect, under the Building...

Written Answers — Social Housing: Social Housing (15 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Social Housing Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, 2011, set out amended provisions regarding aspects of eligibility for social housing. The Regulations also contain provisions regarding classification of accommodation need and the record of qualified households ("waiting list"). As regards older persons, under previous arrangements, authorities used different definitions of older...

Written Answers — Social Housing: Social Housing (15 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The issue of homelessness is a priority for Government which, despite current challenging economic circumstances, remains fully committed to protecting the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society. I agree that moving away from the outdated expensive emergency hostel-based approach is necessary to ensure most effective outcomes for service users at optimal cost to the Exchequer. The...

Written Answers — Rented Dwellings Register: Rented Dwellings Register (15 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Residential Tenancies Act, 2004 sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Residential Tenancies Act in September 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants in the private rented residential...

Written Answers — Rented Dwellings Register: Rented Dwellings Register (15 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Residential Tenancies Act in September 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations in relation to all rented...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417 and 418 together. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. Under section 12 (1)(d) of the Act a landlord is obliged to promptly refund deposits, unless and in accordance with the provisions of the Act, there is rent or other charges or taxes owing or there is damage to the...

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

Phil Hogan: Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 applies to estates which have been granted planning permission and include the construction of 2 or more houses (which as defined in the Act includes apartments) and the provision of new roads, open spaces, car parks, sewers, watermains or drains. In relation to estates which have been completed to the satisfaction of the planning...

Written Answers — Capital Projects: Capital Projects (15 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The information sought across the range of my Department's capital programmes is not readily available, or collected, in respect of all capital works funded through my Department's capital programmes. All procurement is required to be carried out by contracting authorities in line with all national and EU guidelines, which do not allow the exclusion of any company on the basis of origin....

Care of the Elderly (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: No.

Private Rented Accommodation (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Before I reply to Deputy Costello on the housing matter, I wish to take the opportunity to acknowledge the work of Deputy Willie Penrose as Minister of State with responsibility for housing and planning at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government since 9 March 2011. I thank him for his outstanding work and the interest and knowledge he had of housing matters in...

Private Rented Accommodation (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I assure Deputy Costello that I am not happy at there being too many quangos. I have demonstrated this view in recent times. The Government is committed to solving this problem. The programme for Government, the statement on housing approved by the Government at the instigation of Deputy Penrose and the Government's recent housing policy statement which was published in July, all clearly...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: There are 52 Local Development Companies contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver a number of programmes throughout the country, these companies are private limited companies. In this context my Department has no role in the staffing or HR structures of these companies and any decisions relating to their staffing structure are the sole responsibility of the individual development...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: As part of a rigorous appraisal of the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I announced, in October, 2011, further measures in relation to the rationalisation programme with the overall number of agencies being reduced from 21 to 12. The Agencies under the aegis of my Department, their location, the number of Whole Time Equivalent staff and details of exchequer funding as of end...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Data Protection Commissioner has indicated to my Department that actions taken by local authorities in publishing the names and addresses of persons fined or convicted as a result of littering or illegal dumping, whether by publication on their websites or by notices published in the local press and paid for by the local authority, would be in breach of the principles of data protection....

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I have made the following appointments since I took office: Agency / Board Name of Appointee An Bord Pleanála Dr. Mary Kelly (Chairperson) Building Regulation Advisory Board (BRAB) Mr. Aidan O'Connor (Departmental Representative) BRAB Mr. Paul Kelly EPA Ms. Laura Burke (Director General) RPII Dr Maurice Fitzgerald, reappointed (nominee of the Dental council) The Boards of the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, whereby service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. This system is known as franchise bidding. A public consultation designed to inform the policy development process...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) was contracted by my Department to deliver two programmes in Gaeltacht areas, the Rural Development Programme (RDP) Axes 3 and 4, and the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP). MFG also implemented other programmes on behalf of other Government Departments. I understand the difficulty...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Regulation 22 of Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 provides that an applicant household for long-term social housing support is ineligible for social housing support if a household member owns alternative accommodation that it could reasonably be expected to use to meet its housing need, either by occupying it or by selling it and using the proceeds to secure suitable accommodation....