Results 6,061-6,080 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (2 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Site Resolution Plans (SRPs) have been identified by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Unfinished Housing Developments as a key tool in resolving issues associated with unfinished housing developments. Such plans enable stakeholders, including developers, local authorities, financial institutions, NAMA and residents to collaborate in determining how best to pursue resolution of...

Topical Issue Debate: Human Rights Issues (3 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I know Deputy Phelan and others in the House will join me in emphasising our sense of horror and dismay at the relentless onslaught upon the Syrian civilian population. The brutally repressive actions of the Assad regime and the armed resistance from elements of the opposition have resulted...

Topical Issue Debate: Human Rights Issues (3 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Ireland will continue to contribute strongly to the humanitarian needs of Syria. Deputy Phelan might have heard about the Tánaiste's strong remarks at the United Nations General Assembly last week. Ireland is certainly making its voice heard in this regard. I will convey to the Tánaiste the Deputy's concern that the UN monitors be reinstated, as he is back in the country now, and...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (3 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am very much aware of the problem of anti-social behaviour and it has been brought to my attention by representatives from various parts of the country. While the primary responsibility for dealing with anti-social behaviour rests with An Garda Síochána, housing legislation also contains measures aimed at combatting anti-social behaviour in housing estates and I propose to...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (3 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Barry. Every week we meet people who are subject to intolerable anti-social behaviour and who often feel like prisoners in their own homes. We must do something effective about this, although I am not sure about the idea of assessment boards. I heard the Deputy's thoughts on the matter and I am consulting on it. We have commenced work on a new housing Bill and I have...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (3 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department recently issued approval to Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL) to proceed to tender for Demolition Contract 8, which provides for the demolition of the flat complexes on Shangan Road and S illogue Road . I understand from BRL that tenders for th ese work s are currently under examination and they anticipate that the demolition of these units will be completed towards the middle...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. On foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears, the Government launched a mortgage to rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012. This scheme was extended nationally in June 2012, targeting low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (3 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 247 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that a person intending to apply for planning permission may seek the agreement of the planning authority to pre-application consultations, which agreement must not be unreasonably withheld. The Department’s Development Management Guidelines (June 2007) state that requests for both formal section 247 pre-application...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (3 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 20 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. These provide a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing. The ultimate aim of the new system is to create a fairer, more consistent and transparent approach to eligibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (4 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 provides that the removal of any beach material from the foreshore is an activity which requires a licence. The definition of beach material in the Act includes seaweed, whether the seaweed is rooted on the foreshore or washed up by tidal action.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Housing Development Surveys (4 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The National Housing Development Surveys 2010 and 2011 are available on my Department’s website, My Department is currently carrying out the National Housing Development Survey 2012, in conjunction with the local authority sector. It is intended that the findings of this Survey will be made available later in the year.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: House Purchase Schemes (4 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Provisions are in place under Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 enabling for Incremental Purchase in respect of newly-built houses reserved by housing authorities for the purpose. Regulations to implement the Incremental Purchase Scheme for new houses were made in June 2010. This incremental purchase scheme is available to all housing authorities. Information...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (4 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. To this end, they have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require specified...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Planning legislation provides that a request for further information in relation to a planning application may be made, within 8 weeks of the receipt of the application. The Department’s Development Management Guidelines (June 2007), however, recommend the use of pre-application consultation to obviate the need to seek further information at a later stage. The Guidelines also state...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (9 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The operation of the rent supplement scheme is entirely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. Section 20 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. These provide a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (9 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department’s involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Supported Residential Accommodation Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding is provided to Approved Housing Bodies, through the local authorities, for the provision of accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need, including older persons, persons with a disability or homeless persons. In 2011 capital funding totalling some €38.44m was provided under the CAS to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (9 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Programme for Government committed to reviewing the homeless strategy, The Way Home: A Strategy to Address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013 and to implementing a housing led approach to homelessness. Work on the review is almost complete and I intend to issue a policy statement on homelessness shortly. That statement will take account of demands on existing housing and will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. My Department is currently in consultation with the approved housing body sector regarding the development of an enabling regulatory framework to support the expanded role for the sector as envisaged in the Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement. I expect that this...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (9 Oct 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: An application for grant support under the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) for refurbishment works at Newpark Close, Kilkenny was received in my Department from Kilkenny County Council . However, due to the high level of commitments under the housing programme for 2012 , it has not been possible to approve the project at this time. Under the SHIP, local authorities are allocated...