Results 6,601-6,620 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (14 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 254 together. The National Housing Development Survey 2012 identified a total of 84 unfinished housing developments in the Meath area, of which some 38 were substantially complete. Further details can be found in the Survey, which is available on my Department’s website, The resolution of the various issues presented by unfinished...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Management Company Issues (14 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has no function in relation to the operation of property management companies. The Multi Unit Developments Act 2011 , which falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, regulates the management and operation of such companies. In the matter of the taking in charge of estates, the legislative provisions in relation to taking in charge are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (14 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 115 and 116 of 7 February 2013 which set out the responsibilities of housing authorities in monitoring the operation of projects funded under the voluntary housing funding schemes and which are managed and maintained by Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s). My Department will be arranging a meeting with the Director of Service and senior housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (14 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock, including the compilation and funding of on-going maintenance programmes and pre-letting repairs , is a matter for individual housing authorities. The information requested with regard to the numbers of social houses which would benefit from energy retrofitting works is not...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Collins for raising this matter and share her concern on the need to address the issue of inadequate insulation and draught proofing in older local authority housing stock. Given the constraints on capital budgets across all areas of the public service, my Department is now placing greater emphasis on local authority social housing improvement programmes to improve living...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We want to gather the information, as the Deputy said, and find out where the problem houses are located. We have asked the local authorities to do that. This year I hope to be able to divert to occupied houses some of the money that would have been used for "voids". I also hope to develop programmes with the information we are gathering from the local authorities. It could be very...

Magdalen Laundries Report: Statements (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: What does that have to do with the debate?

Magdalen Laundries Report: Statements (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: This has been a dignified debate.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Wind Energy Development Guidelines, published by my Department in 2006, provide advice to planning authorities on the consideration of a range of factors relating to 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently considering the issues to be addressed in the General Scheme of the forthcoming Housing Bill that may include, among other things, proposals for a new scheme for the sale of loc al authority houses to tenants, based on the incremental purchase model. Provisions governing mortgage lending by local authorities are set out under the Housing (Local Authority Loans)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme Funding (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available to Approved Housing Bodies 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Criteria (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, made under section 18 of the Housing (scellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. With very limited exemptions these regulations apply to local authority and non-profit approved housing body units...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government’s housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme is framed in a manner which optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. To...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not aware of any court judgement that gives rise to consideration of an amendment of section 14 of the Housing (scellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 , which provides that a housing authority may refuse to allocate, or defer the allocation of, a dwelling to a person on specified grounds, including that the authority considers that the person is or has been engaged in anti-social behaviour or...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 501 together. My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authorities’ waiting lists. This figure continuously fluctuates as households are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. Detailed information on the latest statutory assessment of housing need which was carried out in March...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, introduced on 1 November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of the grant schemes, including the assessment and approval of applications and the payment of grants to individual...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In June 2012, my Department invited each city and county council to submit proposals for the purchase or construction of new social housing units over the period 2012-2014. Kildare County Council submitted six proposals in relation to the purchase of houses at four locations within the county and the construction of 13 housing units at Athgarvan Road, Newbridge. Approval issued in July 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together. So far, my Department has not received any formal proposals from Longford County Council with regard to the proposed regeneration project at Granard, Co. Longford. I understand, however, that the Council is currently preparing a masterplan for the regeneration of certain areas in Granard including the Colmkille Terrace and Redmond...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government’s housing policy statement, published in June 2011, recognises the approved housing body sector as a key partner in the delivery of social housing solutions for low-income families and persons with specific categories of housing need. Delivery of social housing is being significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (19 Feb 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities. Accordingly , it is a matter for housing authorities to make decisions regarding the type and provision of services for homeless persons within their functional area. Under Section 10 of the Housing Acts, my Department provides funding to...