Results 581-600 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

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

Michael Finneran: Procedures for housing authorities to deal with tenants who fall into rent arrears are provided for in section 31(6)(f), which allows a housing authority to include in its rent scheme procedures, where appropriate, to waive rent in whole or in part on a temporary basis in the case of financial hardship as tenants move into the scheme from the rent supplement. The provisions of section 31...

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

Michael Finneran: These amendments substitute new provisions for two existing provisions in section 25(5)(c)(iii) and in paragraph (ii) of Schedule 3, respectively. The new material essentially makes two changes to the existing text. It extends the grounds on which a Chapter 4 tenancy may be terminated from knowingly permitting a person to enter the house who is the subject of an exclusion order sought by a...

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

Michael Finneran: These amendments extend the provisions concerned to disapply section 211(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 from disposals of dwellings or lands by a housing authority under the following schemes: the rental accommodation arrangements, the new incremental purchase scheme, the tenant purchase scheme and affordable housing under both the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 and...

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

Michael Finneran: The intention of this amendment is not clear. Section 31(4) provides housing authorities with the power to make charges relating to a range of functions, including the provision of services which are also provided to the occupants of other dwellings. It is not intended that charges would be levied on households for services from which such households do not benefit, nor is there any...

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

Michael Finneran: I welcome Senator Coffey's comments on the new section. There is provision in the affordable housing schemes to ensure that on any sale the local authority clawback comes into play when the mortgage is repaid.

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

Michael Finneran: I cannot accept this amendment. Section 33(5) sets out the arrangements for the operation of a hardship clause in the application of this section where moneys are owing to a housing authority. It provides that where a housing authority is satisfied that a household would suffer undue hardship, it can enter into an agreement with the said household for the repayment of the moneys due in...

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

Michael Finneran: As I said, subsection (6) of that section gives power to the Minister with regard to matters to be included in the rent scheme, including the waiving of rent in whole or in part or on a temporary basis in the case of hardship. That provision is there. The official amendment No. 72 inserts a new subsection to clarify that while rescheduling of repayments in cases of hardship will apply to...

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

Michael Finneran: These amendments are unnecessary. I am advised that the ordering of paragraphs in such a subsection gives no particular pre-eminence to the items covered. I therefore ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment.

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

Michael Finneran: The anti-social behaviour strategy sets out an important high level framework for housing authorities to plan for the prevention and reduction of anti-social behaviour in their housing stock. Section 34 specifies the principal objectives of a strategy, notably the promotion of co-operation with other persons, including the Garda, to avoid duplication of effort. It also outlines the matters...

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

Michael Finneran: The opportunity exists for local protocols. While I appreciate the intent, there is also a danger specifically that the flexibility and innovation required in inter-agency work might be constrained. However, I will be providing guidance in this area.

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

Michael Finneran: As I have indicated, the anti-social behaviour strategy provides a framework for action, co-operation between bodies, procedures for the making of complaints and initiatives for the prevention and reduction of anti-social behaviour. These principal objectives are set out in section 34(2). Subsection (3) builds on the principal objectives set out in subsection (2) by requiring housing...

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

Michael Finneran: While section 34 and other changes to the anti-social behaviour regime set out in the Bill provide an important context for enhanced anti-social behaviour provisions, it has not been possible to include all aspects at this stage. Discussions with the Parliamentary Counsel about strengthening the statutory supports available to housing authorities are continuing. Nonetheless, I will be in a...

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

Michael Finneran: It is unlikely we will be in a position to have these further provisions ready for Report Stage.

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

Michael Finneran: I acknowledge the intent of the amendment which seeks to ensure consultation with residents and relevant community and voluntary sector organisations in the development of an anti-social behaviour strategy. However, I am satisfied with the extent of consultation provided for and draw the Senator's attention to section 34(5)(a) which requires the housing authority to consult joint policing...

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

Michael Finneran: The functions of the joint policing committees are kept under review on levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in their areas and the underlying contributing factors. New guidelines for the joint policing committees established in the Garda Síochána Act 2005 were launched in September 2008. They will enable the committees to establish in all the 114 local...

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

Michael Finneran: Section 1 requires all housing authorities to draw up and adopt an anti-social behaviour strategy within one year of the commencement of the section. The strategy would apply to those parts of the area where the authority has dwellings under the Housing Acts, in which relevant purchases, i.e. purchases from the housing authorities, were sold and sites. It is broad. Under section 2 there...

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

Michael Finneran: The Senator is addressing section 37.

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

Michael Finneran: This amendment is not necessary. Subsection (1) already provides that this Part applies to dwellings provided by an approved body. In those circumstances I ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment.

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

Michael Finneran: It applies to all dwellings provided by an approved body. The approved bodies are housing authorities and voluntary bodies.

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

Michael Finneran: Does the Senator refer to the incremental purchase scheme?