Results 621-640 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: A letter conveying my Department's approval to Limerick County Council's Action Plan for Social and Affordable Housing 2004-2008 issued on 23 December 2004.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: In addition to a number of technical changes which were made to the shared ownership scheme with effect from 1 January 2003, I announced last July that significant improvements to the loan and income eligibility limits for shared ownership and affordable housing schemes had been made. The revised income limit was increased to €36,800 for a single income household and €92,000 for a two...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: I have received correspondence from the Taoiseach as well as correspondence directly from the person referred to in the question about his family's accommodation position. My function in relation to Travellers is to ensure that there is an adequate legislative and financial framework in place within which local authorities, relevant voluntary bodies and Traveller organisations may provide or...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: It is open to local authorities to consider alternative methods of construction for housing projects as a substitute to the traditional masonry construction method provided such alternative construction methods comply with the building regulations and my Department's social housing design guidelines. My Department published, for public consultation, an independent study in December 2003 on...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: Single men who are unable to provide housing for themselves from their own resources are entitled to apply for social housing which is provided by either a local authority or a voluntary housing body. While it is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the allocation of houses to single persons and other categories on their waiting lists in accordance with their schemes of...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has no role in the provision of funding for rape crisis centres. My Department has responsibility for homelessness and, as part of this, provides some funding for accommodation related costs to refuges for victims of domestic violence. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through its role as chair of the national steering committee on violence against women, has...

Written Answers — Local Authority Grants: Local Authority Grants (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the disabled persons grant scheme in their area from within the allocation notified to them for disabled persons and essential repairs grants by my Department and to manage the operation of the schemes from within this allocation. My Department recoups to local authorities two thirds of their expenditure...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1385 and 1389 together. Draft proposals involving a scheme for the sale of flats were submitted to my Department by Dublin City Council in June 2004. Officials of my Department have met council officials on a number of occasions concerning the proposals. These discussions are ongoing and further consultations with both Dublin City Council and other housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the rental accommodation scheme announced by the Government in July 2004, local authorities will, over a four-year period, progressively assume responsibility for accommodating supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, rent supplement recipients of 18 months or more continuous duration with a long-term housing need. The rental accommodation scheme is a collaborative project between my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department operates a scheme of grants to assist in the renewal and repair of traditional thatched roofs and has in recent years introduced significant improvements to the assistance available under the scheme. The basic maximum grant was increased in 1999 from €3,047 — £2,400 — to €3,810 and from €4,571 — £3,600 — to €5,720 for houses on specified offshore islands. The...

Social and Affordable Housing. (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: I thank Deputy Walsh for raising this matter and allowing me to update the House on progress on the affordable housing initiative site at Clonakilty. As the House is aware, the affordable housing initiative was included as one of the ten special initiatives negotiated with the parties to the pay agreement in Sustaining Progress. The initiative is aimed at those who in the past would have...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: Following a review of the scheme of community support for older people, certain key changes were introduced in 2004. These changes have no implications for the overall funding available for the scheme. The 90% limit on funding was abolished and replaced with individual maximum grants in respect of the various scheme elements. The maximum grant provided for socially-monitored alarm systems or...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: The primary aim of this Government's housing policy is to enable every household to have an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment, and, as far as possible, at the tenure of its choice. The general strategy for realising the overall policy aim is that those who can afford to do so should provide housing for themselves, with the aid of the fiscal...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department received a request from Naas Town Council on 15 October 2004 to purchase a suitable house to meet the special needs of the family in question. In replying to the town council on 9 November 2004 my Department raised no objections to the acquisition of a property appropriate to the family's needs given the exceptional circumstances associated with the case. It is understood that...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: I understand apartment complex management companies are constituted under the Companies Acts and are required to comply with the provisions of those Acts. The operation of such companies is primarily a matter for their members, which are the owners of the properties in the developments to which they relate. An Agreed Programme for Government undertook to consider the introduction of...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: Certain clarifications regarding the application for funding under the capital assistance scheme in respect of the proposed provision of 14 units of accommodation for disabled persons were sought from Cork County Council, which is responsible for administering the scheme in its area. Documentation requested has been received and the application is under examination. The council will be...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has not received proposals from Cork (North) County Council for development at this location.

Written Answers — Summer Jobs Scheme: Summer Jobs Scheme (1 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Question No. 751 of 7 May 2003, Question No. 419 of 24 June 2003 and Question No. 148 of 25 June 2003. There are no plans at present to reintroduce the student summer jobs scheme.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (1 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 to 224, inclusive, and 226 and 227 together. The Deputies may be aware that I have confirmed continued funding of nine national anti-poverty networks in the amount of €1.351 million annually, representing effectively a 5% increase in funding for the networks concerned, whose focus is on Travellers, unemployment, refugees, rural poverty, lone parents,...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (1 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 was published on 24 June 2004 fulfilling a commitment by Government in December last following its review of arrangements in regard to dormant accounts funding. The Bill is currently before the Oireachtas and provides, inter alia, for significant changes to the disbursement process. Subject to the timing of its enactment, a round of applications for...