Results 6,681-6,700 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (5 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government has taken an extensive range of measures to ensure the more sustainable treatment of land and property in Ireland across both the housing and planning areas. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board Remit (5 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants in the private rented residential sector. Following a review of the Act in 2009 the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licences (5 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Proposals for activity and development on the foreshore vary greatly in terms of their nature, scale and complexity and the time required to determine applications varies accordingly. Changes introduced since the transfer of the function to my Department have impacted on the determination times. Short-term administrative measures which have been developed include: - Regulations putting a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (6 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Any unsold affordable housing units that a housing authority has made available for social housing are subject to that authority’s allocation scheme, just as in the case of any other form of social housing. The making and amendment of such an allocation scheme for social housing is a reserved function of the elected members of each housing authority. In accordance with Guidance issued...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (6 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: This year my Department is providing some €80 million under the National Regeneration Programme to support on-going regeneration projects at a number of locations around the country. These projects are at various stages in the project lifecycle and include Ballymun, which will be substantially complete by end 2014, as well as projects which are currently at early planning stage like...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (6 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Information relating to the amounts of funding allocated and recouped to Sligo Borough Council in respect of the regeneration project over the past 8 years is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: To qualify for social housing support, a household must generally submit a properly completed application form to the housing authority, including providing the supporting documents specified in the application form checklist. Where a valid application form is submitted, a housing authority will then assess it in terms of eligibility and need for such support in accordance with section 20 of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Planning Issues (6 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The sustainable rural housing guidelines for planning authorities which were published in April 2005 are designed to achieve a balance between a good planning framework for rural housing and the local housing needs of those who are part of or have links with local rural communities. The guidelines elaborate on and consolidate the approach on rural...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (7 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock. The programme includes a retrofitting measure aimed at improving the energy efficiency of older apartments and houses by reducing heat loss through the fabric of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (7 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: This year I allocated some €5.777 million to Kerry County Council in respect of the various measures supported under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme. In July 2012, I approved €420,000 for the construction of rural houses in the county over the period 2012–2014 and this is reflected in the Council’s capital allocation for 2013. Given the...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: Léim an Bhradáin Housing Association received approved housing body status for voluntary housing purposes from my Department in September 1997. The association has a four-person Board of Directors and currently manages and operates a 32-unit voluntary housing scheme at Sli an Chanail, Easton Road, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. My Department’s role in relation to the voluntary housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (7 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department’s involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. These schemes are funded by 80% recoupments available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: An Bord Pleanála Appeals (7 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information sought is not available in my Department. Information in relation to the decisions of the Board not to accept inspectors’ recommendations and fees income from submissions made is available in the Board’s Annual Reports for the years in question. These can be accessed at

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together. I am keenly aware of the challenges we face in delivering housing supports to a range of vulnerable households and groups. The difficulties facing the State's finances and the necessity to reduce public expenditure to sustainable levels are impacting on capital programmes all across the public service. My Department's housing programme...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are faced with the inevitable cuts in terms of the amount of money available. That is the reality in which we have to live. I have got a small contingency fund and I am satisfied every local authority has enough funding to meet their commitments made in the previous year. During the second quarter our officials intend to speak to the local authorities about these grants. After that we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I agree with Deputy Stanley that we want to keep people in their homes if at all possible and that relatively small amounts of money sometimes make the difference. That is why I am examining the upper limit, which is €30,000. We cannot change the limit for those who have already been approved, but it may be different in future. We are looking at it on an immediate basis to determine...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I reject any suggestion of favouritism. This was done using a clear and transparent formula, whereby the cases approved received money first and the remainder was divided on an equal basis according to the amounts requested from the various local authorities. The contingency fund of €2 million is available to allow us to address any case that may arise in the second quarter of the year.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (12 Mar 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. The scheme, which was extended nationally in June 2012, targets low-income families with unsustainable mortgage situations and little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. The scheme ensures...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: First, I stress that dealing with the issue of mortgage arrears is a major priority for the Government. It is not true to say the Government is not engaged in the process.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: A great deal of progress has been made across the board in terms of the personal insolvency legislation and the constant pressure exerted on the banks, as has again been reiterated in the past week. The mortgage to rent scheme is part of this, but it is to deal with the most distressed mortgages. There are a number of criteria, including that people have to qualify for social housing and...