Results 561-580 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: The special housing aid for the elderly scheme is administered by a task force under the aegis of my Department and operated by the health boards at local level. It is a matter for each board to determine, within the funds available, the priority of individual cases on hand. In recognition of the valuable work being done, funding for the scheme generally has been increased significantly since...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: My Department has not received an application from Naas Town Council to purchase a house for the family in question. However, I understand that the town council is endeavouring to find suitable accommodation for the family.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: South Dublin County Council has included proposals for the refurbishment of further houses in its housing stock in its action plan on social and affordable housing for the period 2004-08. Officials of my Department had recent discussions with the council on its action plan and it is intended to agree activity levels with the county council by the end of 2004. My Department approved county...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Under the housing management initiative grant scheme 2004, allocations were made totalling some €1.38 million in respect of 65 separate applications for funding. Kilkenny Borough Council applied for funding under the 2004 scheme and was allocated a sum of €28,200. Kilkenny County Council's application under the scheme was not approved, as the proposal did not come within the scope of the...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board has engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf, which will involve the disbursement of up to €60 million from the fund. I...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I do not know whether I will be able to answer the Senator's last question, but I thank him for raising this issue. I would like, first, to give a brief overview of the major investment being made by the Department in improving water services infrastructure throughout the country, and especially in Limerick, under the national development plan. Last May, the then Minister for the Environment,...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Yes. I am not sure, but it seems to be the practice to add some schemes, since the programme is rolling. It was certainly the case last year that some were added. That happens every year. However, it seems that it will be beyond 2006. If it is a rolling programme, that might be adjusted this year or next to 2005 to 2008. I am not quite sure, but it need not necessarily mean that one must end...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Under the scheme of community supports for older people, grant aid is available towards the once-off costs of purchase and-or installation of small-scale physical security equipment and socially monitored alarm systems. I have asked my officials to make the necessary arrangements in respect of an application for a pendant alarm and I understand that the local family resource centre will...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Under the scheme of community supports for older people, grant aid is available towards the once-off costs of purchase and-or installation of small-scale physical security equipment and socially monitored alarm systems. It is a condition of the scheme that approval must be received in advance from the Department before any work is carried out. Department records indicate that the last...

Written Answers — Drugs Task Forces: Drugs Task Forces (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Earlier this year, I met representatives of a number of community based local drugs task force projects from Tallaght to discuss a range of issues of concern to them. I found this meeting useful and a number of the issues have since been progressed, including the question of funding shortfalls for projects that have been mainstreamed through the Departments of Health and Children and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: My Department received an application for funding from the group in question under the 2004 programme of grants for locally based community and voluntary organisations. Assessment of the large number of applications received under this scheme is nearing completion and all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application shortly.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: The capital allocation available to Dublin City Council from my Department in respect of the provision of extensions is sufficient for the requirements of this programme. My Department has not received a request for additional funding. It is a matter for the city council to determine the level of its programme for the provision of extensions.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: The existing tenant purchase scheme, which is in operation since 1995, does not apply to separate and self-contained flats in premises divided into two or more flats. Proposals received from Dublin City Council regarding the sale of flats raise significant issues of a legal, financial and policy nature and examination of them in my Department is under way.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: The type of heating system installed in a local authority house is a matter for the local authority concerned. However, my Department has given approval for the use of a geothermal heating system in a small number of houses and a crèche facility in a new local authority housing scheme in Tralee, County Kerry. My Department will consider further proposals from local authorities for the...

Seanad: Disabled Person's Grant Scheme. (21 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senator Kenneally for the opportunity to speak about the disabled person's grant scheme. A review of the scheme is being finalised in the Department. On its completion, it will be possible to determine the changes, if any, required to the regulations governing the scheme to ensure the funding available is directed at those in greatest need of such assistance. This is the fundamental...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (21 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senator for affording me the opportunity to outline the proposals of the Department of Education and Science regarding the proposed extension project at Scoil Mhuire, Convent of Mercy, Strokestown, County Roscommon. The Department received an application from the school authorities for the provision of an extension to the existing building at Scoil Mhuire. The proposed extension...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (2 Nov 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Question Nos. 377, 378 and 379 together. My Department has received applications for funding under the scheme of community support for older people 2004 from the three groups in question. Applications received under the scheme are currently being processed and grants will issue to eligible community groups at the earliest possible date.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (2 Nov 2004)

Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. In June 2004, the Government announced an increase in the overall amount that the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board may spend from €30 million to €60 million under the initial...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 506 together. Information on the number of housing units acquired under Part V for each local authority area is published in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin 2003, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Information supplied by local authorities in respect of 2003 indicates that 50 fully or partially developed sites...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Nov 2004)

Noel Ahern: Information on the number of affordable houses and Part V activity in the period 2001 to end March 2004 is published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The provision of Part V housing units is dependent on the level and commencement of private sector residential development and the nature of Part V agreements entered into....