Results 621-640 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Part 7 of Schedule 2 makes amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2000 necessitated by the provisions in the main body of the Bill. I propose this amendment to make a further consequential change to section 96(13) of the 2000 Act, as amended. Section 96(13) refers to the provision of housing for persons referred to in section 9(2) of the Housing Act 1988. Section 9 of the 1998 Act...
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I propose this amendment to insert a new Part 10 in Schedule 2 of the Bill to make a number of changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The 2004 Act provides for a measure of security for tenants of private dwellings, amendment of landlord and tenant law with regard to the basic rights and obligations of each of the parties, arrangements for disputes between such parties to be resolved...
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: This amendment is required to update references in section 265(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to statutory provisions in the housing code that are being repealed in this Bill. The new references are to provisions in the Bill that will replace the repealed items of legislation.
- Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: These amendments are required to amend the Long Title of the Bill to reflect the inclusion of amendments to existing legislation on standards of private rental accommodation and the insertion in the Bill of amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The amendments to these Acts are set out in the proposed new Parts 10 and 11 of Schedule 2...
- Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (4 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. In May 2008 my Department notified local authorities of a combined capital allocation of â¬71.4 million for the operation of the schemes in private houses in 2008. On foot of...
- Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (4 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: The Housing Aid for Older People scheme is available to assist older people to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes. Where a suite of works is being grant aided under this scheme, local authorities may also, as part of the package of works, assist with the provision of radon remediation works, where applicable. The administration of the Housing Aid for Older...
- Written Answers — Rental Accommodation: Rental Accommodation (4 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Responsibility for enforcing the regulations with regard to minimum standards for rental accommodation rests with the relevant local authority. My Department provides significant resources, from part of the proceeds of tenancy registration fees collected by the Private Residential Tenancies Board, to assist local authorities in discharging their functions under the Housing Acts in relation...
- Live Register. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I was asked by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coughlan, to take this Adjournment matter on her behalf and I thank the Deputy for raising it. Yesterday, I attended with the Deputy a development in his constituency and I was well received by him and all colleagues in the Waterford city area. The recent increase in unemployment is unwelcome and is an indication of the...
- Live Register. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: If the Acting Chairman allows me a little leeway I will include the rest of the reply, otherwise I will furnish it to the Deputy. It is intended that during 2009 a number of START workshops will be run throughout the south-east to develop a pipeline of businesses for the region. The first of these workshops will be held in February 2009. Enterprise Ireland is planning a strong promotional...
- Hospital Services. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health services possible in an effective and efficient way. Ensuring patient safety is of paramount importance, so that people can have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient...
- Hospital Services. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: It is all good news.
- Social Welfare Benefits. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Hanafin. The Christmas bonus is paid to all recipients of long-term social welfare payments. The payment was made during the first week of December, at an estimated cost of â¬201 million. Some 1.3 million persons, comprising 940,000 recipients and 400,000 dependants, benefited...
- Social Welfare Benefits. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Supplementary welfare is available. It is the prerogative of supplementary welfare officers to provide it with regard to any particular hardship affecting a family or any bill payments that need to be made.
- Urban Renewal Schemes. (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: I thank Deputies Chris Andrews and Cyprian Brady for raising this matter. I am pleased to be able to respond positively to this motion, which recognises the solid work that has been undertaken by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority since its establishment in 1997 in managing the physical, economic and social regeneration of more than 500 hectares of the docklands. The success of the...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: My Department's Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, which is administered by local authorities, provides targeted support to improve conditions in the existing housing of older people. The types of works which may be grant aided under the Scheme are varied and may include the provision and upgrading of insulation works. In addition, older people living in local authority housing may benefit...
- Written Answers — Housing Schemes: Housing Schemes (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Under my Department's funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing, grants of up to 100% of the approved cost of projects are available for accommodation provided by approved housing bodies. The administration of the schemes, including the processing and appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: The administration of the Essential Repairs and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant Schemes, including the processing and approval of individual applications, is a matter for the local authority concerned and is one in which my Department has no direct function.
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Despite the challenges that the current economic situation presents, meeting the relevant targets set out in the Government Programme, the social partnership agreement Towards 2016, and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 continues to be the overriding objective of the Social Housing Investment Programme. The commitment entered into under Towards 2016 was to achieve 27,000 social housing...
- Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Failure to do so is an offence, subject, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding...
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (9 Dec 2008)
Michael Finneran: Since the announcement in May 2008 that a number of housing regeneration Public-Private Partnership projects would not be proceeding as planned, my Department has worked closely with Dublin City Council to ensure that all possible avenues for moving these projects forward are examined. I am aware that the multi-disciplinary team, established within the Council to identify the next steps for...