Results 661-680 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am satisfied that the current formulation in sections 20(7) and 21 would achieve the same aims as the Senator's amendment, by giving a framework for more timely assessment of need. Subsection (7) empowers the Minister to make regulations regarding the frequency of reviewing and updating the assessment of housing needs of an individual household. Where an individual seeks a housing...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Before moving to the substance of the amendment, the intent of subsection (7) is to empower the Minister to make regulations to set out how an assessment of housing needs will be carried out for an individual household. It deals with practical administrative matters, such as application forms, the timing of assessments etc. In this light, an amendment of the type suggested is not...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The allocation scheme is a mechanism for housing authorities to fairly and transparently allocate dwellings to individual households. Subsection (4) empowers the Minister to make regulations governing the matters that housing authorities must include in their allocation schemes, including the manner of allocation of different categories of dwelling and the order or priority of their...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Section 25 relates to tenancy agreements under the rental accommodation scheme. It is not considered appropriate in this context to deal with non-payment of arrears as powers are provided elsewhere for housing authorities to deal sympathetically with tenants who fall into arrears. Section 31(6)(f) allows for a housing authority to include in its rent scheme procedures, where appropriate, to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: As I stated, I continue to consult the Parliamentary Counsel on the matter. It would be reasonable to allow this consultation which arises from my commitment to consider whether more can be provided in terms of tenant support services. If the Parliamentary Counsel accepts this is possible, I will do so. However, a decision on the matter has not yet been reached.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I cannot accept the amendment. Section 34(2) sets out the arrangements for the operation of a hardship clause in the application of this section where moneys are owing to a housing authority. It provides that, where a housing authority is satisfied that a household would suffer undue hardship, it can enter into an agreement with the household for repayment of the money due in reasonable...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am advised that ordering the paragraphs in such a subsection gives no particular pre-eminence to the items covered. Therefore, the amendments are unnecessary and I ask the Senators to withdraw them. I appreciate the intent of the Senator's amendment is to focus on preventative measures and inter-agency work but I am satisfied that the section as it currently stands will achieve that...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: While I appreciate the intent of the Senator's amendment is to focus on preventative measures and inter-agency work, I am satisfied that the section as it currently stands will achieve that purpose. I indicated on the previous occasion that I would develop guidelines in this area that will reflect work already undertaken by the Centre for Housing Research that provides important training to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I am generally satisfied that with the extent of consultation provided for, as the joint policing committees are representative not only of councillors, Oireachtas Members and senior Garda officers but also include community and voluntary interests. Importantly, subsection 5(d) provides for consultation with any other person as the authority considers appropriate. As I consider the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: This amendment is not necessary. Section 37(1) already provides that this Part applies to dwellings provided by an approved body. I ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment. We cannot sell voluntary houses because we do not own them. There will be provision under the new incremental purchase scheme in respect of homes that have yet to be built.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Let me distinguish between local authority housing and voluntary housing. Local authorities run the tenant purchase scheme through which tenants can buy their local authority houses. Under the incremental purchase scheme, which is covered in this legislation, tenants will be in a position to buy voluntary houses. Existing voluntary houses are not in our ownership and thus we cannot sell them.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: As I stated on the last occasion, the current tenant purchase arrangements do not apply to apartments. While we are continuing to work to finalise proposals for a viable sales scheme for apartments, in advance of obtaining experience of dealing with the sale of apartments under any future legislative model, it would be premature to consider the sale of new apartments in this matter under the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I thank Members for their contributions during the passage of the Bill through the House and for the warm welcome afforded to me on my return to the Seanad as a Minister of State. This has been a good, worthwhile debate and there were worthwhile and vigorous contributions from all sides. While there is seldom complete agreement on any issue before the House, it would not be a...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (11 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The recommendations arising from the Comptroller and Auditor General's Special Report on Ballymun Regeneration cover a broad range of issues, from relatively minor changes in administrative practices, which are now being implemented, to major recommendations that relate to the social and economic fundamentals of the regeneration programme over the medium to long term. My Department is...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Under section 164 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) may appoint adjudicators and mediators for the purposes of its dispute resolution functions. Section 164 also provides that the fees and expenses paid to adjudicators and mediators are such as the PRTB may determine, with the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: Under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, one of the functions assigned to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) is to review the operation of the Act and to make recommendations to the Minister for its amendment, where necessary. The PRTB has recently completed an examination of the Act and, informed by four years of experience, has made a number of recommendations for legislative...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I understand that the agency concerned is at an advanced stage of preparing its Corporate Plan for the 2009 to 2011 period and this will be finalised shortly.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (11 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: My Department has no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), which is an independent statutory body established under the terms of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The PRTB may be contacted at their offices at O'Connell Bridge House, Dublin 2 or by telephone or email. Contact details and details of tenancy registrations are available on the...

Housing: Motion (16 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes: the comprehensive and ambitious modern housing policy framework set out in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, and the continuing substantial progress made in implementing its programme of policy reforms and improvements in housing services and their delivery, to be underpinned by...

Housing: Motion (16 Dec 2008)

Michael Finneran: The commitment entered into by the Government under the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, was to achieve 27,000 social housing starts in the period 2007-09. In terms of delivery, we set out to reach the first one third of this target in 2007. By the end of 2007, we had exceeded this target with a total of 9,061 starts across the local authority, voluntary and co-operative housing...