Results 7,401-7,420 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (25 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The level of funding available to housing authorities in 2014 for homeless accommodation and related services is being considered in the context of the Estimates process. In light of budgetary demands, I am working with my colleagues in the Government to ensure appropriate funding priority continues to be attached to the housing-led approach and the objective of ending long-term homelessness...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (25 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Some 38 properties in Meath have been identified as suitable for social housing through the NAMA transfer process and are currently the subject of negotiation with a view to leasing. In Louth, 15 properties made available by NAMA were purchased by Tuath Housing Association, using the Capital Advance Leasing Facility, and became operational in September 2012.  A further 12 apartments,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (25 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Local authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of their social housing stock and for the preparation and implementation of planned maintenance programmes. Responsive repairs to tenanted properties and the proper maintenance and servicing of central heating systems or other appliances are a matter for individual authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (25 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: NAMA continues to work closely with my Department, the Housing Agency and with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in relation to the delivery of social housing. To date, NAMA has identified over 4,300 residential properties, controlled by its debtors and receivers, under this initiative as being potentially available for social housing. Demand has been confirmed by the local...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for disability, equality, mental health and older people, Ms Kathleen Lynch, I welcome this opportunity to put on the record of the House the Government's commitment to the provision of effective and responsive public services for people with disabilities and to strongly re-affirm the Government's...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Registration of Births (25 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senator for raising the matter, to which I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection. We all agree that the care of extremely ill children is of the utmost importance. Parents who find themselves in need of such care for their children must be able to access the necessary State supports as soon as possible. I assure the Senator that the registration of a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Registration of Births (25 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is a registrar present in some hospitals. If there is a lack of communication or information available at places of birth, it would be useful for the Senator to come back and let us know, and we can then ensure that the channels of communication are open.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (26 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The inclusion of a household by a housing authority on its list of qualified households is a matter for the housing authority concerned under the provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2009, the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 and having regard to the particular circumstances of each case. To qualify for social housing support, a household must generally submit...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Road Signage (26 Sep 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Unless otherwise exempt, signs and signage on lands adja cent to roads throughout Ireland are subject to the submission of a planning application in accordance with the provisions of Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Decisions in this regard are a matter for the relevant planning authority.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The requirement to reduce public expenditure to sustainable levels is impacting on capital programmes all across the public service, including my Department’s housing capital programme. The level of capital funding available has declined significantly in recent years along the lines highlighted in the Medium Term Exchequer Framework for Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (26 Sep 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. Through active management of my Department's overall housing budget for 2013, I allocated further funding across all local authorities on 19 July bringing the overall funding for these grants to €45.607...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (1 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 483 together. The Government's 2011 housing policy statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act. That review is available on my Department's website and the period for public submissions closed on 27...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (1 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 475 together. 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. Through active management of my Department’s overall housing budget for 2013, I allocated further funding across all local authorities on 19 July...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Standards (1 Oct 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. These Regulations were further amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department understand s the family in this case are tenants of Kerry County Council and that the Council is liaising with them with the objective of sourcing an alternative property to meet their particular accommodation needs. This year my Department is providing €400,000 to Kerry County Council for the construction of single instance dwellings for families on the housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (1 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 472 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (1 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of the programme for social housing reform I am keeping the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 under review. I expect as part of this process to issue revised Regulations and further guidance to housing authorities on this area. These will be informed by, amongst other things, areas highlighted for revision as a result of the summary of assessments 2013, the results of which I...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulation 2001, as amended, local authorities are required to obtain the approval of the elected members for carrying out certain works in their administrative areas, including the construction of houses. A consultation process is required to be undertaken prior to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, who unfortunately cannot be present, I thank Senator Cullinane for giving me the opportunity to outline to this House the position regarding staffing in primary schools. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools are published annually on the Department's website. The key factor for determining...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I was not talking about the pupils, teachers or parents but about people in political life who know very well the political realities whereby a deal agreed by the former Government with the troika is one to which we must adhere, at least until the end of this year, with regard to how much we cut from public expenditure. Unfortunately, we have to do that whether we like it or not. There is a...