Results 7,601-7,620 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Traditionally it has been difficult to quantify the number of homeless persons on an on-going basis; this is in part a consequence of the volatility within this cohort of housing need. However, during the course of 2013 the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS), which commenced operation in Dublin in 2011, is being extended nationally. When PASS is fully implemented...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In March 2012, the Government approved in principle the transfer of responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with an established housing need from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to local authorities using a new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). On 18 July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of HAP including the provision of funding to the local authorities to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to the reply to Priority Question 4 on today's order paper which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department, the Housing Agency and NAMA continue to work together with housing authorities and approved housing bodies towards identifying and bringing units into social housing use. Units identified through this process are considered by housing authorities for the full range of possible social housing uses, including homeless appropriate accommodation. I am satisfied that when units...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock, including the regeneration of large social housing estates and flat complexes, estate-wide remedial works schemes, funding for extensions and adaptations to meet the needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation Provision (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The extensive information requested is not readily available in my Department. This information is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. Earlier this year I 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Services (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is no legislation in this jurisdiction regulating the height of trees and hedges in privately owned gardens and I do not currently propose to introduce legislation on this matter. My Department understands that there is a civil remedy of nuisance available in respect of the branches or roots of a neighbour's trees encroaching on one's property. I have recently been in correspondence...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authority waiting lists. These figures fluctuate as households are allocated housing and new households apply for support. In accordance with Section 21 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, I directed all housing authorities to prepare a summary of social housing assessments carried out in their...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The rental equity portion of shared equity loans is managed by local authorities and serviced by them from the proceeds of rents received. While local authorities continue to meet loan payments to the Housing Finance Agency on their portion of shared equity properties, the shared areas of such properties may have individual arrears issues with local authorities, which are matters for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together. The Abridged Estimate for my Department, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Expenditure Report 2014, provides €525.8 million in respect of the Housing Programme. These resources have been supplemented by a further €50 million announced in the Budget to fund infrastructural investment primarily...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Mortgages (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. Data on the number of local authority housing loan applications are not included in this range. Data on the number of local authority housing purchase loan approvals and drawdowns are included in this range; however, they are not broken down by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Leases (23 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department does not hold any current information on the number of tenants on local authority waiting lists. I directed all local authorities to prepare a summary of social housing assessments carried out in their areas as at 7 May 2013. The results of this assessment, when available, will detail the number of households on waiting lists in each local authority by a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (24 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department does not collate the specific statistical data requested. The Wind Energy Guidelines 2006, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, are in place to ensure that all proposed wind energy developments are subjected to careful scrutiny by the relevant planning authority. They provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (24 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, together. My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authority waiting lists as this figure fluctuates continuously as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. In May 2013 under Section 21 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I directed all housing authorities to prepare a summary of social housing assessments carried out in their areas as at 7 May 2013. The data submitted by housing authorities are currently being analysed and once verified will be collated and a report published by the Housing Agency. This information will provide an important insight into the level and type of need for social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (24 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Standards (24 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock, including the regeneration of large social housing estates and flat complexes, estate-wide remedial works schemes, and funding for extensions and adaptations to meet the needs...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Unfinished Housing Developments (24 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I intend to develop a fund for the resolution of certain unfinished housing developments that have not been possible to resolve up to this point. The precise criteria under which the fund will be disbursed are currently being developed and will be finalised shortly. However, I envisage that the fund will operate in a carefully targeted and evidence led fashion to aid the resolution of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (24 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: For a household to qualify for social housing support, a housing authority must carry out an assessment to establish whether the household is in need of housing and meet s certain eligibility criteria, including income limits. As part of a concerted effort to deal with the issue of mortgage arrears, the Social Housing Assessment Regulations were amended in 2011 to provide that a household...

Seanad: EU Scrutiny and Transparency in Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Oct 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: Unfortunately, I must leave now. I will be replaced by the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry. I apologise to the House.