Results 5,861-5,880 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. Repossession remains extremely rare for local authority borrowers, with only 128 repossessions across all local authority areas carried out between 2005 and 2010. Clearly, where repossession does occur it is only as a last resort, and my Department is aware that it generally involves those households in arrears who refuse to engage with...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. The Housing [Miscellaneous Provisions]Act, 2009 introduced a new approach to the sale of social housing whereby social housing tenants, including tenants of approved housing bodies, could acquire new local authority houses and existing apartments under the Incremental Purchase Scheme [IPS]. The details of this scheme are available on...

Written Answers — Voluntary Housing Sector: Voluntary Housing Sector (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's Housing Policy Statement, published in June 2011, identifies approved housing bodies (AHBs) as key partners in the delivery of social housing. This recognises both the constrained funding levels available for local authority construction programmes and the capacity and track-record of the voluntary and cooperative housing sector. AHBs are uniquely placed to help drive the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's Housing Policy Statement, published in June 2011, sets out a vision for the future of the housing sector in Ireland based on choice, fairness, equity across tenures and on delivering quality outcomes for the resources invested. The overall strategic objective is to enable all households access good quality housing appropriate to household circumstances and in the particular...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: There are already two types of house purchase loan available from local authorities: standard annuity loans targeted at lower income first time buyers and those under the Home Choice Loan scheme which are available to qualifying middle income first time buyers affected by the "credit crunch". The terms and conditions governing the operation, including eligibility terms, of annuity mortgages...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The social housing capital budget has been reduced from €1.535 billion in 2008 to just over €333.7m for 2012, and the financial parameters within which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to large capital funded construction programmes. Nevertheless, the Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: As Minister for Housing and Planning I am responsible for ensuring that a strong policy and legislative framework exists to support the consistent operation of an efficient, effective and transparent planning system. Forward planning sets a clear hierarchy of plans from the National Spatial Strategy to Regional Planning Guidelines, Development Plans and Local Area Plans to ensure a clear...

Written Answers — An Bord Pleanála: An Bord Pleanála (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: An Bord Pleanála was established in 1977 under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1976. It is responsible for the determination of appeals and certain other matters as set out in the Planning and Development Acts, 2000 to 2011 and determination of applications for strategic infrastructure development including major road and railway cases. It is also responsible for...

Written Answers — An Bord Pleanála: An Bord Pleanála (28 Jun 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Appointments to the Board of An Bord Pleanála are governed by sections 105 to 107 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2011 and articles 56 to 65 of Part 7 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Ordinary members are appointed from among nominees put forward by organisations specifically prescribed for the purpose of making nominations for appointments as...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: There are at present no specific conditions set down in legislation with regard to distances from sensitive properties – including houses – in respect of the siting of wind turbines. The issue was considered during the preparation of the existing Wind Energy Guidelines, published by my Department in 2006. It was decided then that it would be impractical and inappropriate to set a minimum...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 155 of 28 June 2012 which outlines the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The primary purpose of social housing support is to ensure that persons and families who do not have sufficient resources to provide accommodation themselves to meet their needs are provided with adequate housing for their needs.Regulation 22 of Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 provides that an applicant household for long-term social housing support is ineligible for social housing...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Sections of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 dealing with social housing support, and the related Social Housing Assessment Regulations, 2011, were commenced on 1 April 2011. The Regulations contain national eligibility criteria, including maximum income limits, for persons applying for social housing. Households in receipt of social housing support are not required to have...

Written Answers — Regeneration Projects: Regeneration Projects (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 436 together. Sligo Borough Council submitted a draft Project Brief to my Department in connection with the appointment of a multi-disciplinary team to develop a masterplan for the Sligo regeneration project. The draft brief is currently under consideration and is the subject of ongoing discussion between my Department and the Council's regeneration...

Written Answers — Homlessness Strategy: Homlessness Strategy (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities and the purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Information in respect of funding provided under Section 10...

Written Answers — Homlessness Strategy: Homlessness Strategy (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities and the purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Information in respect of funding provided under Section 10 for...

Written Answers — Regeneration Projects: Regeneration Projects (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 95 of 14 June, 2012. The local authorities in question have now submitted details of project staff costs to my Department. This is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Voluntary Housing Sector: Voluntary Housing Sector (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under my Department's Capital Funding Schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing, funding is available for the provision of accommodation, by Approved Housing Bodies, to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need. An annual management and maintenance allowance is also paid to these bodies in respect of each dwelling provided under the Capital Loan and Subsidy...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act, 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock, including the carrying out of planned maintenance programmes, is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority, in this case Longford County Council. I understand that the windows in the dwelling referred to were recently replaced by the local authority....

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Jul 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need including older people, people with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability, the homeless, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. The administration of the...