Results 7,641-7,660 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Rents (5 Nov 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, and those data are available on my Department’s website Data on the average weekly rents are included in this range. The most recent data relate to 2011 due to a delay in receiving fully audited rental information for 2012. Audited data in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (6 Nov 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: Private Rented Accommodation Issues (6 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides the main regulatory framework for the private rented residential sector and for the operation of the Private Residential Tenancies Board. The Act provides for security of tenure and specifies minimum obligations for landlords and tenants under a tenancy. In addition, the Act contains provisions relating to the setting of rent and rent reviews and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Implementation (6 Nov 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...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I assure him that the Government is determined to address the problems faced by people waiting for housing. Unfortunately, we inherited an economy that had collapsed, which had a significant effect on capital budgets. One means of dealing with the housing list is to make available empty houses. Some 3.3% of social housing stock is...

Topical Issue Debate: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: On Dublin, as Deputy Conaghan will be aware, there is still some work to be carried out, this year and next, in Ballymun but it is close to completion, and we really want now to address difficulties in the kind of estates of which he spoke, such as Dolphin House. There is a commitment to funding, at least in the lifetime of this Government, for those projects. On the application for...

Topical Issue Debate: Dublin Water Shortage (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I welcome the announcement today by Dublin City Council that the recent nightly restrictions on the supply of water are being lifted. I also welcome the news that production levels at the water treatment plant in Ballymore Eustace have...

Topical Issue Debate: Dublin Water Shortage (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputies for making specific points. I will bring the points that are relevant to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan. There is no doubt that the Dublin region needs a major new source capable of supplying 350 million litres of water per day if it is to meet its medium to long-term needs. There is no dragging of feet on the part of the Government. Dublin City...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is a matter for each housing authority to determine the eligibility of individual households for social housing support, in accordance with section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 made thereunder. Regulation 22(1) of the 2011 Regulations provides that a household with alternative accommodation that would meet its...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: In the case of the 1995 tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses, which is now being terminated, a tenant who believes that the value of the house under the relevant regulations is lower than the housing authority’s valuation may submit a property valuation by a qualified valuer to the authority concerned. It is a matter for the authority to decide t he extent, if...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tax Collection (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Minister for Finance is well aware of the concerns raised by Senator Daly. It will probably not come as a surprise to the Senator to hear that similar concerns have been raised directly with the Minister by a wide variety of organisations and individuals. I want to be clear, in that the Minister takes these concerns seriously. Perhaps it would be worthwhile my explaining the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tax Collection (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are a part of Europe.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tax Collection (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will respond briefly. We are a part of Europe and any decision made therein. The Minister has stated that he takes these concerns seriously. The consultation process is still open for another day or two. I do not doubt that concerns will be considered, but I have outlined the reasons, the timescales and the need for as much accuracy as possible when making budgetary decisions.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tax Collection (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: We have known about the two-pack for quite some time.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I know the concern she expresses in terms of empty houses is very real. There is no particular proposal with regard to affordable houses. However, proposals from local authorities will be carefully considered. I presume a proposal has been submitted by Killarney Town Council.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: A specific proposal would need to be submitted by the local authority. To the best of my knowledge, a specific proposal has not been submitted. I will have the matter clarified. Another possibility is that of leasing through a voluntary housing body. Unsold affordable housing is often included in the social housing mix. I am not aware of any proposal having been submitted by Killarney...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I did not say it had not made an application, rather that I am not aware of any such application.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Statistics (12 Nov 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, and those data are available on my Department’s website Data on the number of new house commencements are included in this range. These commencements relate to private housing starts. While my Department funds the provision of social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Property Numbers (12 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259, 291 and 292 together. It is not possible to give a specific breakdown by county of the number of units tenanted at any given time under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). Numbers in RAS constantly vary as contracts end, tenants move on to other properties, landlords withdraw from the scheme, new tenancies are allocated or vacancies in contracted...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Eligibility (12 Nov 2013)

Jan O'Sullivan: The 18 month threshold is a ‘rule of thumb’ to try to distinguish between persons who are seeking a short term income support and those who have a long term housing need. While in general a household must be in receipt of rent supplement for 18 months or more to qualify for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), housing authorities do, on occasion, accept households on to RAS...