Results 6,981-7,000 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (21 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: This year my Department has allocated in excess of €56 million to Dublin City Council in respect of their 2013 social housing programme. This include s €31m for regeneration in both Ballymun and Dublin City and some € 9.8 million under the Remedial Works Scheme for the refurbishment of tenanted and vacant units in Liberty House and Bunratty, Phases 1 and 2. Under my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 21 December 2010, the Government designated Grangegorman as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). On 25 July 2011 Dublin City Council decided to make the Draft Planning Scheme submitted by the Grangegorman Development Agency, and on 2 May 2012 An Bord Pleanála approved the making of a Planning Scheme for the Grangegorman SDZ. Any breach of the Planning Scheme is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by section 28 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, provides that the duration of a planning permission may be extended where substantial works have not been done, or where the development has not even commenced, in cases where the planning authority is satisfied that there were considerations of a commercial,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: 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 provide me with a standalone analysis of the shared...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Exemptions (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The number of estates taken in charge or listed for taking in charge is not available in my Department. 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...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the opportunity to be here for Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013 and thank members for their support for it during the Second Stage debate in the Dáil. The Bill makes technical changes to section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 so that a new and more harmonised system of local authority rents can be implemented effectively. This...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can assure Deputy Murphy that this Bill has nothing to do with moving people out of larger homes. It is purely a technical mechanism to allow local authorities to establish new rent schemes. On the point made by Deputy Ellis, the Bill will facilitate the transition to HAP. We are progressing the outstanding issues with the Department of Social Protection. For example, it is proposed to...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The intention is to have a model rent for particular houses. For example, a one-person household would pay a particular amount by way of contribution. A model rent will be set for each category of household in respect of those transferring from rent supplement. I believe this addresses the issue about which the Deputy is concerned, namely, people who cannot access housing because of the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are currently working on a business plan. We will have to have adequate funding for this. The amount to be paid by the tenant will be decided on the basis of the model rent for HAP for each of the household categories. The money will have to be made available. The amounts payable will be similar to those payable under RAS. All of these issues have yet to be addressed. There will be a...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are examining model rents and are taking into account the amount currently paid by council tenants because they will also come within the remit of HAP. We are seeking to ensure a fair affordable rate is set for each category of family. All of the work is not yet complete. As such, I cannot give the Deputy a definitive answer in terms of what each family will be expected to pay. We...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (22 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: At present the rent supplement is not in my remit but the Department of Social Protection is carrying out a review which I understand is due to be completed relatively soon. Perhaps the Deputies should direct their questions at the Minister for Social Protection. We are aware of the variations in differential rent around the country. We plan to give local authorities a period of time to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility (23 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 194 of 16 May 2013 which sets out the position in relation to the provision of accommodation for persons with a specific housing need.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board (23 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Act sets out the obligations of tenants and landlords in the sector and the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) is the independent statutory body charged with the administration of the Act and the enforcement of those obligations. The Residential Tenancies Act...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (23 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 places a legal obligation on planning authorities to take in charge residential developments, finished or unfinished, where certain conditions have been met. My Department’s Circular Letter PD 1/08 required planning authorities to develop or update their policy on taking in charge, as approved by the members of the authority, on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Management Companies (23 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. Issues relating to t he operation and management of the Leim an Bhradain Housing Association were discussed at a recent meeting between my Department and Kildare County Council. My Department was advised by the Council of changes to the board of the housing association and that a general meeting will take place in early June. My...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Residential Tenancies Board Remit (28 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), an independent statutory body established on 1 September 2004 under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The Act regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector and provides, inter alia, for the enforcement of determination orders, where such have not been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Development (28 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 497 together. While there are no windfarm applications within Dublin Bay itself, Saorgus Energy Ltd lodged an application for a foreshore lease to develop a windfarm on the Kish and Bray Banks in 2009. These banks are approximately 10kms from the Dublin and Wicklow coasts. The company recently published an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (28 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Three separate schemes are available; the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (28 May 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 that...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (28 May 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The statutory requirements, in these circumstances, are set out in section 34 (10) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 which requires that a statement 'shall indicate the main reasons for not accepting the recommendation in the report or reports to grant or refuse permission.' The Board is not obliged to provide discursive reasoning either for a decision that accepts the inspector's...