Results 6,701-6,720 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

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

Jan O'Sullivan: It was mainly the sub-prime lenders who engaged in this process at the very beginning. We have now got all of the banks to engage, which is an achievement. I accept that it is a slow process and we want to make it quicker; therefore, we are keeping the pressure on. Every single one of these is a cost to the State as well so it is not the case that we can get them for nothing.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: It is because we must acquire them.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I could argue that with the Deputy but I know we do not have time today; there are certain conditions under which one qualifies for social housing. Not everybody qualifies for social housing so there are restrictions attached to the scheme and we are moving it as quickly as we can.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have referred earlier to the challenges we face in delivering on housing need and the rationale used in apportioning the housing capital budget across the various measures under my Department’s housing programme for 2013. None of these important measures, whether it is the regeneration of seriously disadvantaged communities, the provision of special needs accommodation,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department recently conducted a public consultation exercise on A New Planning and Consent Architecture for Development in the Marine Area. Over 200 responses were received and are currently under consideration. The results of this exercise will inform the drafting of the general scheme of a Bill to update the consent system for developments on the foreshore. I hope to bring the general...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 391 together. To date 3,949 properties have been identified by NAMA as being potentially suitable for social housing purposes. Demand has been confirmed by local authorities for 1,314 of these units, for 637 of which discussion/negotiation has begun. Housing authorities have been assessing the suitability of the units identified with regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department does not collate the information sought. The Government’s 2011 housing policy statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, as part of the review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. That review is now almost concluded and I have also asked the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Wind Energy Development Guidelines (June 2006) provide guidance 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 such developments. To...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (12 Mar 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 optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this, it is essential...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (12 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Regulations (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 111 together. In the context of a judicial review of the grant of a foreshore licence to Providence Resources plc, my Department and the Office of the Attorney General met the company and their legal representatives on 12 February 2013. As that meeting was held in the context of and with regard to the judicial review, the discussions are confidential...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government published its response to the recommendations of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal on 19 July 2012 including in respect of an independent planning regulator, to which it has agreed in principle. I also discussed this specific recommendation with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on 29 January 2013. In that context, I expect...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 to 396, inclusive, together. In accordance with the provisions of Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966, local authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of their social housing stock, including policy and practice in relation to tenancy arrangements and decisions in relation to the acquisition of specific properties to meet identified...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417 to 419, inclusive, together. My role, as Minister, is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each local authority. The adoption of individual development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. While...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 422 together. I recently published a Homelessness Policy Statement in which I outlined the Government's aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. The statement emphasises a housing-led approach which is about accessing permanent housing as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. The availability and supply of secure, affordable...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is exploring, including in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and sector stakeholders, options to facilitate the increased provision of social housing using innovative funding approaches, including, potentially, social housing bonds and social impact bonds. A number of proposals are being developed in this regard but are at a preliminary stage of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department closely monitors progress by housing authorities in relation to the implementation of annual work programmes for the supply and improvement of social housing and funded under the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP). Capital allocations in respect of 2013 have recently issued to all housing authorities who, in turn, have been requested to submit quarterly profiles of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Rents (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current arrangements for determining local authority rents will be substantially replaced on the coming into force over the next year of section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The rent payable by individual households will be determined by the housing authority in accordance with a rent scheme made by the elected members of the authority. Each rent scheme must...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has made allocations under the public safety initiative totalling €291,753 to Longford County Council to assist in their efforts to tackle the difficulties faced by the residents of this development, and has been kept informed of the extensive range of works which the local authority is currently carrying out and which will continue for some time. While it is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (12 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 440 together. My Department does not maintain a record of the number of households on local authority waiting lists, which changes from day to day according as households are allocated housing and other households apply for social housing support. A breakdown by housing authority of the last point-in-time assessment of housing need, carried out in...