Results 641-660 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

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

Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. In June 2004, the Government announced an increase, from €30 million to €60 million, in the overall amount that the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board may spend under the...

Written Answers — National Anti-Poverty Networks: National Anti-Poverty Networks (2 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 276, inclusive and 279 to 282, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputies to my answer of 1 February 2005 to Questions Nos. 216 to 227, inclusive.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (2 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has not received an application for approved status for this body, as would be required in connection with the schemes of assistance for projects by voluntary housing bodies. Cork County Council, which is responsible for administering the schemes in the area concerned, has not applied to the Department for funding for any project being undertaken by the body.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Local authorities are responsible, as part of their housing management functions, for the determination of rents of their dwellings subject to certain broad principles laid down by my Department. These broad principles are detailed in circular HRT 3/2002, which issued in March 2002. This circular states that authorities should ensure that rent increases do not absorb an excessive amount of...

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill. The Government has continued the good work of previous administrations in introducing various programmes and measures to tackle disadvantage and exclusion in society. The dormant accounts scheme is one such measure. Every Member welcomed the...

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: That is not true.

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I remember it in the context in which it was meant — as a jest.

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy is contradicting himself.

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: No.

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: With a larger fund, one needs a more watertight system of administration. It is not what the Deputy is suggesting.

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I object to the suggestion made by Deputy McGinley equating the figures.

Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: It is in accordance with the core principles of the first plan.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that my Department administers a number of well-established grant schemes aimed at assisting communities experiencing disadvantage or isolation. In addition, my Department receives applications from groups or individuals that seek funding outside the parameters of established schemes. Groups are well aware that, from time to time, Departments may, going into December,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I assume that the question refers to assistance from my Department under the voluntary housing capital assistance and communal facilities grant schemes. My Department's involvement with the voluntary housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: When the shared ownership scheme was introduced in May 1991, the rental subsidy rate ranged from a minimum of £300, €381, to a maximum of £700, €889, where gross income in the previous tax year was at or below £10,000, €12,700. The current rates range from a minimum of €1,300 to a maximum of €2,550, which represent increases of 241% and 187%, respectively, on the original values....

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the shared ownership scheme houses are acquired by a local authority and leased to the shared owner, who purchases at least 40% of the value of the house and rents the remaining equity from the local authority. The local authority finances the transaction by borrowing from the Housing Finance Agency. The shared owner must purchase full ownership within 30 years. For transactions...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The shared ownership scheme is one of a number of schemes designed to facilitate those on low to modest incomes to purchase their first home. The objective of the scheme is to enable households that would not otherwise qualify for a mortgage to purchase a house outright to buy a share in a house now and the remainder at later stages within a 25 year period. The scheme is administered by the...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Questions Nos. 216 to 224, inclusive, 226 and 227 of 1 February 2005.

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Following a review of the scheme of community support for older people in 2004 the maximum funding available to any individual participant voluntary organisation was set at €30,000. In previous years a small number of organisations received sums in excess of €30,000; however, the vast majority of applicants were small community-based voluntary groups which received average amounts of less...

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 220 and others of 1 February 2005 on this matter and to my response to the Adjournment Debate on this matter on 26 January 2005. The decision to discontinue funding of the community workers co-operative was taken in a context where I have been progressively concentrating the focus of my Department's resources directly on communities experiencing...