Results 541-560 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 Nov 2008)

Michael Finneran: The final allocations for the 2009 Social Housing Investment Programme to be announced early next year will take account of the 2008 Housing Needs Assessment to be finalised shortly, and so will appropriately reflect any change in identified needs in the Kildare area.

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (2 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme is currently administered by a Task Force under the aegis of my Department and operated at a local level by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Funding is provided to the HSE on a regional basis and it is a matter for the HSE to apportion funding within regions. The total allocation to the Western Region of the HSE in respect of Housing Aid for...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (2 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 to 354, inclusive, together. As indicated in the reply to Question No. 197 of 19 November 2008, a new local authority mortgage protection insurance scheme is to be put in place from 1 January 2009. It is intended that the rental portion of shared ownership will be incorporated into the new scheme. Participation in the mortgage protection insurance scheme...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (2 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 to 361, inclusive, together. Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform) was established by Government in June 2007, with the key responsibility to ensure the delivery of a well coordinated "whole of Government" response to domestic,...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Under my Department's funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing, grants of up to 100% of the approved cost of projects are available for accommodation provided by approved housing bodies. The administration of the schemes, including the processing and appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Responsibility for the operation of the affordable housing schemes is primarily a matter for individual housing authorities. Accordingly, detailed information in relation to the position regarding contracts for sale or other matters in relation to individual affordable homes is not available in my Department. It is a feature of the operation of the schemes that individual authorities would...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (2 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Housing authorities have statutory responsibility for homeless accommodation and other related services and any proposals in this regard are a matter for consideration in the first instance by the relevant housing authority. The housing authority must establish the need for the service and determine the level of emergency/transitional accommodation and related services to be provided, having...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: 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-October 2008, over 16,400 households eligible for the scheme were transferred from rent supplement to accommodation provided by local authorities, either to RAS directly...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (2 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I have no function in this matter as the operation of tenancy registration is the responsibility of the Private Residential Tenancies Board, an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Since its establishment, the Board has achieved considerable success in the registration of tenancies and I understand that in excess of 240,000 tenancies are now...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is unnecessary because the requirement to have regard to alternative accommodation appropriate to the household's needs is adequately reflected already in paragraph (e) as drafted, that is "the availability to the household of alternative accommodation that would meet its housing need;". In those circumstances, I ask Senator Bacik to withdraw her amendment.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Yes, I was very generous on my previous visit to the House.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The record will show that I was generous.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The purpose of the entire section is to ensure needs are met appropriately. This is the essence of why we are changing the way needs are assessed. Therefore, the word "appropriate" is superfluous in subsection (4)(e). We are changing the law to accommodate all situations.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is not appropriate to subsection (4) which deals with the eligibility of households for social housing support by virtue of their current circumstances regarding income, availability of alternative accommodation, etc. The description of the particular housing needs in terms of medical needs and so forth is covered by subsection (6), which provides that: The Minister may make...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The list suggested by the Senator is drawn from the 1988 Act which, in light of changing housing needs, has proved to be limited in terms of providing an accurate picture of both the nature of housing need and the relative priorities. Indeed, people may have multiple needs which are not adequately captured by the current statutory definitions. The proposed revised classification based on...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Regulations are implemented subsequent to enactment of the legislation.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I appreciate Senator Norris's concerns but it is worth putting the issue surrounding rent arrears in context. The differential rent scheme operated by housing authorities is based on the fundamental principle of ability to pay in that the rent is related to the household's income. That is a very affordable form of housing. Research carried out in 2001 on Dublin City Council tenant...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Regarding Senator Coffey's concerns, it will not apply to transfers between housing authorities. Section 20 does not provide a housing authority with the power to charge rents, sell sites or dwellings, make tenancy agreements, etc. These powers are exercised by authorities under other housing Acts and, in the case of the charging of rents, section 31, when enacted. Sections 31 and 33 deal...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I acknowledge the sentiments and concerns raised. However, the proposed amendments would raise issues regarding the exercise of any discretion in respect of eligibility. Given the importance of the matter, I am prepared to consider further the mandatory nature of the provision. I propose to undertake this in conjunction with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. I ask Senators to accept the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am asking that amendment No. 35 be accepted and I will examine how we can accommodate the sentiments and concerns raised by the Senators.