Results 6,761-6,780 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Applications (21 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of my role as Minister with responsibility for housing and planning I am overseeing a programme of social housing reform. This includes elaborating on the Social Housing (Allocation) Regulations 2011 which came into force in May 2011, and set out the conditions that housing authorities must take into account when making their allocation schemes. As part of the programme of reform,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (21 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 all housing authorities are required to make an allocation scheme. The Regulations require authorities to set out the manner in which they will allocate dwellings to both households on the waiting list and households who have been approved for transfers. Any unsold affordable housing units that a housing authority has made...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Grants (21 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 22 February 2013 I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. In allocating the available funding across all 34 city and county councils I did so in as transparent and as fair a way as possible. In framing the 2013 allocations, my Department wrote to each local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Eligibility (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is open to any person or household to apply to a housing authority for an assessment of their housing need. It is a matter solely for the housing authority concerned to determine whether an applicant for social housing support is eligible for and in need of that support in accordance with the provisions of section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, regulations made...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In advancing loans for house purchase it is of critical importance that local authorities make such funding available on the basis of sound lending criteria. My Department and individual local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that mortgage lending is prudentially based and that the capacity of a borrower fully to service a loan over the full term is realistically assessed and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Resolution Processes (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: While such a scheme is not under consideration it is the case that, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Exemptions (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 396 to 398, inclusive, and 402 to 405, inclusive, together. An exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation employed for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Exemptions (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: An exemption from the local property tax applies to those unfinished housing developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. There is no general exemption for estates that have not been taken in charge. Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 applies to estates which have been granted planning permission and includes the construction...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Eligibility (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is open to any person or household to apply to a housing authority for an assessment of their housing need. It is a matter solely for the housing authority concerned to determine whether an applicant for social housing support is eligible for and in need of that support in accordance with the provisions of section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, regulations made...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In advancing loans for house purchase it is of critical importance that local authorities make such funding available on the basis of sound lending criteria. My Department and individual local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that mortgage lending is prudentially based and that the capacity of a borrower fully to service a loan over the full term is realistically assessed and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Expenditure (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 363 of 20 March, 2013 which sets out the position in relation to the determination of the 2013 capital allocation to Kerry County Council under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. As of 22 March, some 5% of this year’s allocation of €1,445,971 had been drawn down by the Council. I will consider the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have no plans to amend planning legislation to provide for the making of submissions to An Bord Pleanála in connection with pre-application consultations regarding strategic infrastructure development. Submissions may of course be made by third parties after a strategic infrastructure application has been received.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Bonds (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together The specific information sought in relation to the amount or value of bonds is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Standards (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. They specify requirements in relation to a range of matters such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas and electrical supply. All landlords...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Rents (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 614 of 6 June 2012. A decision on whether a person who has been sentenced to prison is liable to pay rent on their local authority house while serving their sentence is a matter for the housing authority concerned. Having examined the practice across a number of authorities, my Department’s understanding is that where a person who has a local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: While, under Section 255 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2012, I may initiate a review of procedures and systems employed by a planning authority in the performance of its functions under the Acts, I am precluded, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, from involvement in relation to any particular case, including an enforcement matter, with which a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The application to An Bord Pleanála for approval of this project was made prior to the commencement of Part XAB of the Planning and Development Act 2000 on 21 September 2011 and accordingly the relevant provisions in relation to appropriate assessment of this application are contained in the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997. Under Regulation 30(5) of those...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (26 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 22 February 2013 I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. In allocating the available funding across all 34 city and county councils I did so in as transparent and as fair a way as possible. In framing the 2013 allocations, my Department wrote to each local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Exemptions (27 Mar 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 204, inclusive, 208, 209, 213 to 215, inclusive and 218 together. An exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation...