Results 6,461-6,480 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 660 and 669 together. In assessing a household for social housing support, the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 set out maximum income thresholds which all housing authorities must adhere to in determining eligibility. In accordance with the Household Means Policy issued under Regulation 17 of the Regulations, the income threshold is net of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes, designed to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers, rests with individual housing authorities. My Department's role is to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Applications (16 Jan 2013)

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. My Department's involvement...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Rents (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is a matter for each household to decide the form of housing that best meets its housing need at an affordable price. The current arrangements for determining local authority rents will be substantially replaced on the coming into force over the next year of provisions of Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Household income will continue to be a major factor in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The National Housing Development Survey 2012, the results of which I published in November 2012, outlined the progress which has been made in tackling the issues faced by the residents of unfinished housing developments. This Survey, which is available on my Department's website, , provides a comprehensive breakdown by local authority of the status of all unfinished housing developments...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently preparing the General Scheme of a Housing Bill that will include, among other things, proposals for a new scheme for the sale of local authority houses to tenants. The scheme will be based on the incremental purchase model, involving discounts for tenants linked to household income and a discount-related charge on the property that will dwindle away over a period...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, published by my Department in October 2011, local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows: - Category one, where the development is still being actively completed by the developer, or where...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee (NCC) on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. The Committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy –Dwellings) of the Building Regulations 2011, set down the minimum energy performance standards which buildings, including dwellings, are required to achieve when they are newly built or when they are subject to an extension or a material alteration or change of use. The Building Regulations include 12 parts dealing with a range of safety and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Land Ownership (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is continuing to engage with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to clarify the position in relation to ownership of the lands in question. It will not be possible to provide advice to the council on the next steps in the matter until this process is satisfactorily concluded.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The processing of individual planning applications is a matter for individual planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála in the case of developments that fall to be dealt with under the strategic consent process. I have no function in relation to the specific matter in question. However, in relation to wind energy development generally, the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (17 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 656 of 16 January, 2013 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing for People with Disabilities (17 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The provision of special needs housing is mainly funded under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for approved housing bodies. Under the 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which came into operation on 14 June 2010, the making and amendment of an allocation scheme for social housing is a reserved function of the elected members of each housing authority.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Advance Leasing Facility (17 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Capital Advance Leasing Facility will continue in 2013, though the level of Exchequer funding for the scheme this year , within the overall housing provision, has not yet been determined. It is open to Approved Housing Bodies to make proposals to my Department having regard to the housing need in an area, as determined by the Local Authority. Any suitable independent living units,...

Topical Issue Debate: Climate Change Policy (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. As the Deputy said, this debate highlights the key role that Ireland can play during its Presidency in advancing action at EU level to address the global challenge of climate change. The melting of polar ice caps is only one of a large number...

Topical Issue Debate: Climate Change Policy (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We have to do everything we can. The Doha outcome streamlined the negotiating process, which is important. The Deputy asked about the possibility of raising this issue with our trading partners. There are opportunities for Ministers at various meetings abroad to raise such issues. Much of this is about building political momentum. We have the means. The EU has significant goals in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Work is currently underway on preparing the capital allocations under the housing programme for 2013. Earlier this month, my Department requested local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements for this year under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The information received is being assessed at present. I intend to announce details of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 to 447, inclusive, and 450 together. My Department currently supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects to deliver integrated physical, social and economic regeneration, ranging from large-scale urban regeneration projects such as Ballymun regeneration to smaller estate-wide regeneration projects in Dublin city and in a number of regional...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: House Purchase Schemes (22 Jan 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's housing policy statement published in June 2011 marked a radical departure for housing in Ireland. The statement clearly recognises the economic consequences of an over reliance on the property sector. It signalled a shift to a tenure neutral high level objective, and a clear commitment to restoring balance to the housing sector generally through a lesser reliance on home...