Results 6,561-6,580 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (5 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: According to the most recent figures made available from the Department of Social Protection, at the end of 2012 there were nearly 88,000 recipients of rent supplement, of whom 53,000 have been in receipt for longer than 18 months. The cost of rent supplement to that Department in 2012 was over €400m. The ongoing management and financing of the rent supplement scheme is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (5 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department remains committed to providing financial assistance to older people and people with a disability who wish to carry out essential repairs, extensions/adaptations to their homes in order to meet their accommodation needs. Work is currently underway on preparing the capital allocations under the housing programme for 2013, including the suite of Grants for Older People and People...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites (5 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The detailed information sought regarding individual properties listed on the Derelict Sites Registers of specific local authorities is not available in my Department. Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to maintain a derelict sites register, which includes the name and address of each owner and occupier, where these can be ascertained by reasonable enquiry, of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (5 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: 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 significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Deposits (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. Under the Act a tenancy includes any periodic or fixed term tenancy whether oral, written or implied and a tenancy agreement includes an oral tenancy agreement. It is a matter for the tenant and landlord to agree the terms and conditions of a lease or tenancy agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Exemptions (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In the context of Budget 2013, the Government announced the introduction of a local property tax which will replace the annual household charge. It was also decided that a waiver will apply in certain circumstances; a prescribed list of unfinished estates, subject to certain criteria and identified as part of the National Housing Development Survey 2012, in respect of which the property tax...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Criteria (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme local authorities enter into contractual arrangements on behalf of tenants with accommodation providers, primarily in the private rented sector, to secure medium to long-term availability of rented accommodation. The lease on these units can vary from 1 year to over 10 years. The RAS involves a three way contractual relationship between landlord,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Property Numbers (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme commenced in late 2005 to the end of December 2012 some 1,208 and 781 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement to RAS and other social housing options respectively in Counties Louth and Meath. The table below sets out the annual transfer numbers:- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Louth 17 169 158 281 ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2011, I am, as nister, specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case, including an enforcement matter, with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Applications (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Sections of the Housing (scellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 dealing with social housing support, and related Social Housing Assessment Regulations, 2011, were commenced on 1 April 2011. These provisions introduced a new standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing in every housing authority. One of the important provisions of the new regulations is that a household may...

Seanad: Private Rented Sector: Statements (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am very pleased to be back in the Seanad to have an opportunity to speak on the subject of the private rented sector. The past five years have been turbulent and traumatic in the housing market. An obsession with residential property as an investment vehicle rather than as a home was driven by the failed pro-cyclical policies of the past decade. Home ownership, a noble aspiration,...

Seanad: Private Rented Sector: Statements (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I hope I can keep smiling.

Seanad: Private Rented Sector: Statements (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Flattery will get one everywhere.

Seanad: Private Rented Sector: Statements (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank all Senators who contributed to the debate for the positive support for the progress being made. I particularly appreciate the support on the matter of bedsits, which has come from all sides of the House, because we are keen to ensure that we improve standards. There were several common themes among the contributions and I will address these and refer to some of the individual...

Seanad: Private Rented Sector: Statements (6 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are trying to learn from systems already in place in neighbouring jurisdictions. Several good schemes have been put in place in Britain and Northern Ireland has recently introduced a scheme. We still have quite a bit of work to do on the measure but I intend to have it ready to bring before the Seanad. Senator Reilly raised the issue of rent receivers. My Department has entered...

Planning and Development Policy Directive: Motion (7 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulation in draft:Planning and Development (Planning Enforcement) General Policy Directive 2013,copies of which have been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 11th January, 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (7 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. 704 housing associations were approved by my Department under Section 6 of the Housing (scellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 for the provision and management of housing. In 2012 my Department identified 86 Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) that neither produced housing stock nor applied for any funding from my Department . These companies...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (7 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Wind Energy Development Guidelines (June 2006) provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for wind energy developments. ...

Topical Issue Debate: Development Contributions (12 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the four Deputies for raising this important issue. As soon as I heard about it I immediately sought clarification and information through my Department's officials. I will first address the situation in Wicklow. It is important to point out in the first instance that Wicklow County Council has also initiated separate legal action against the original developer seeking payment of...

Topical Issue Debate: Development Contributions (12 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I take on board what Members are saying. The fact is, however, that the adoption of a development contribution scheme is a function of local authorities, although they must have regard to the statutory guidelines provided by the Department. We have local democracy in certain instances and we must ensure that we protect it. At the same time, there is a common national interest with regard...