Results 5,641-5,660 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: On foot of nomination and appointments processes initiated in December 2011 under Section 106 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2010 and associated regulations four new members have been appointed to An Bord Pleanala. Names and periods of appointment for the new members are set out in the table below. Board Member Period of Appointment From To Gabriel Dennison 21/05/2012...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the 2012 estimates process, difficult decisions had to be taken in relation to prioritising funding for core services in all programme areas. The provisional funding estimate to support the mainstreamed drugs projects under my Department's Housing programme for 2012 was €100,000, compared with €400,000 in 2011. In view...

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The 2002 National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is a twenty-year planning framework designed to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth between regions, and it provides the spatial vision and principles for statutory regional planning guidelines across eight regions and for development plans at a local level. A comprehensive review of...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The application from Providence Resources for a foreshore licence in respect of site investigations and the drilling of an exploratory well off Dalkey has been assessed by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee which recently submitted its report to my Department. I will consider the recommendation of the Marine Licence Vetting Committee and my Department in due course in making a...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: A response to the letter in relation to Áras Rónáin has recently issued to the Deputy, advising that a meeting will be arranged by my Department with the relevant parties including Galway County Council, the HSE and Áras Rónáin Tithíocht Soisialta Teoranta.

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Estates: Unfinished Housing Estates (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The National Housing Survey was initiated to identify unfinished or partially completed housing developments. Finished housing developments (for more than three years and where more than 10% of the units remained unoccupied) were also included. In the context of the survey, a 'housing development' comprised of two or more dwellings set out in free standing, semi-detached, terraced, duplex...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 629 together. My Department recoups to local authorities 90% of their approved current expenditure on the provision of accommodation and related expenses for homeless persons in accordance with Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. In this context funding is currently provided to the TEAM organisation through recoupment to Westmeath County Council....

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under section 126 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2011, it is a statutory objective of An Bord Pleanála to determine appeals and certain other matters within 18 weeks. The statutory objective period was achieved in 81% of all cases in 2011, a significant increase on the figure of 63% achieved for 2010. The equivalent figure up to the end of April 2012 is 45%. The specific...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Exchequer allocations for 2012 in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, totalling some €54.2 million, were notified to local authorities on 28 February. My Department monitors expenditure under these schemes on an ongoing basis and any savings, resulting from an under-spend by local authorities of their 2012 allocation, will be made...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes have a major impact on the quality of life for the many thousands of beneficiaries and are vitally important in assisting older people and people with a disability to continue to live independently in their own homes. In 2011 alone, a combined Exchequer and Local Authority contribution of over €76m facilitated the payment of over eleven thousand grants...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Decisions on whether a person who has been sentenced to prison is liable to pay rent on their local authority house while serving their sentence are a matter for the housing authority concerned. However, I have examined the practice across a number of authorities and my understanding is that where a person who has a local authority tenancy receives a custodial sentence that the local...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department's involvement with voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority. Monaghan County Council submitted a funding proposal...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Decisions on eligibility of households for social housing support and the allocation of that support are solely a matter for housing authorities. Regulation 22 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 provides that an applicant household for long-term social housing support is ineligible for such support if a household member owns alternative accommodation that could reasonably be...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: In March I announced details of the 2012 housing capital allocations to local authorities, totalling some €251.5 million. In excess of €1 million has been made available for the various housing programmes in the Laois County Council area. Of this, €170,000 has been allocated to meet commitments under the Council's social housing supply programme and €106,504 is being made available...

Written Answers — Local Authority Works: Local Authority Works (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: A tender report for the works in question was received in my Department from Dublin City Council on 4 May and is currently under consideration. The proposal was discussed at a meeting between my Department and the Council on 1 June. The Council was asked to review a number of issues including costs and a response is awaited.

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 627 together. The Government is acutely conscious of the difficulties many households are facing in terms of mortgage arrears. Where any borrower, either from a local authority or from a private financial institution, is facing difficulties in meeting mortgage repayments, they should engage proactively and constructively with the lender to seek to...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am pleased to bring the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012 before the Seanad today. The Bill is required to facilitate the Department's agency rationalisation programme, to underpin legislatively any new body established under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971 and to provide that one person may be the manager of Limerick city and county councils...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank all Senators for their participation in the debate. As usual in this House, there is very wide knowledge and interest in local government and that entire area and it is very useful to hear all the contributions. I will convey to the Minister, Deputy Hogan, those points that are specifically relevant to the decisions he and the Government will make in the near future. I note in...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: These amendments seek to introduce a requirement for the consent of or consultation with the Oireachtas, agencies and local authorities in the administrative process of establishing new bodies and in the preparation of transfer orders in the context of bodies that are being dissolved. The principle of a Minister in a sector such as local government having the power to establish bodies to...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I reiterate that the link between the principles and policies in primary legislation is being strengthened in this Bill. Any decision that is made by the Minister will have to be made in that context. The focus of this Bill is relatively narrow. Senator Cullinane referred to the wider issue of local government reform, which is not encompassed in what we are talking about. We should...