Results 521-540 of 4,674 for speaker:Dessie Ellis
- Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Developments: Unfinished Housing Developments (31 Jan 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Question 440: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the work he is undertaking to deal with the issues arising when families have paid deposits on homes in estates in which the management company is no longer in business and no local authority has taken up the responsibility of roads and maintenance and so the house purchase cannot be completed. [4927/12]
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (31 Jan 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Question 627: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the future of the Woodlands, Silver Birch and Sycamore Units in James Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin; if there are plans to close these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5356/12]
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (31 Jan 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Question 628: To ask the Minister for Health the future of dementia and elderly in-patient and outpatient services in James Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5357/12]
- Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Yesterday the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, revealed details of the taxi review, which, I am sure, the Cabinet has reviewed. It contains approximately 46 recommendations.
- Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: I am coming to it.
- Order of Business (1 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: The programme for Government indicated that legislation would be introduced fairly quickly. This industry has a myriad of problems and the legislation is urgently needed. Will it be brought forward very quickly? I do not want to hear it will be some time in 2012 - we need to address the matter as urgently as possible. Can the Taoiseach give us any sort of date?
- Written Answers — State Banking Sector: State Banking Sector (1 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Question 36: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the negotiations between Allied Irish Banks and Aviva on the matter of life insurance products; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these products would be sourced from the UK rather than Ireland; and if he has made any attempts to advise AIB to seek to source these products from within the State from providers such as...
- Social and Affordable Housing (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Question 5: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans for the use of social housing from the National Assets Management Agency stock; the estimated cost; and the way these will be paid for. [6168/12]
- Social and Affordable Housing (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Just before Christmas, NAMA announced it had approximately 2,000 properties available for local authorities and housing associations and that funding would be made available through the social housing leasing scheme, which the Minister of State mentioned. NAMA bought the debts at a reduced rate. It did not buy the properties. Would it not make more sense to call in the debts and have the...
- Social and Affordable Housing (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: We are not requesting the properties for nothing. We have paid for them. We have certainly bailed out many people in doing so. We have helped to get many developers out of hot water. I do not accept we are asking for the houses for nothing. The Minister of State said the scheme may result in a short-term gain, but in the longer term it is not in the best interest of the country. It is...
- Social and Voluntary Housing (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: I have met many of the voluntary housing associations in recent months. Many of the associations are looking to buy housing units but they are having great difficulty raising money through financial institutions. Concerns have also been raised that interest rates, while low at present, if they rise could create problems in keeping rents at fair rates for their tenants. This is why there is...
- Social and Voluntary Housing (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: The Minister of State referred to CALF. It does not appear the facility is able to ensure suitable loan conditions. The Minister of State also referred to the HFA. I would like to think the Minister of State will strengthen her efforts to provide public money through the HFA. On another issue, how many publicly owned social housing units will be built in 2012?
- Local Government Reform (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: I reiterate one point made by Deputy Stanley in regard to local government reform. It relates to the power of managers. We have seen this with Dublin City Council which has accumulated powers that were passed by the Oireachtas. It gave the council too much power while local councillors were relegated down the chain in terms of what they could and could not do. I would like to see those...
- Local Government Reform (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: That is democracy.
- Water Services (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: I am opposed to water charges because I believe â¬500 million would be better spent on stopping the leakage in our system. That would provide significant employment while fixing a problem we have been dealing with for a number of years. In many of the older houses in places like Whitehall, Finglas and Walkinstown water is supplied through lead pipes. Will part of the â¬500 million be...
- Water Services (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: It is around that.
- Water Services (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: The Minister of State did not answer my question. Many of these houses are owned by old people whose only income is social welfare. These lead pipes potentially pose a massive problem. Has the issue been taken into account?
- Homelessness Strategy (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: The date set for ending homelessness passed and we never succeeded in meeting our goal. There is talk about a strategy being put in place by 2013 or 2014 but does the Minister of State seriously believe this is a realistic date? I do not believe it is achievable. Has a timeline been set out for the homelessness strategy? At this moment people are sleeping on the streets outside Leinster...
- Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Question 43: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe envisaged for the review and renewal of the strategy to end homelessness. [5911/12]
- Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (2 Feb 2012)
Dessie Ellis: Question 59: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to set a new deadline for the ending of long-term homelessness. [5910/12]