Results 8,561-8,580 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The target number of households to be transferred under the Rental Accommodation Scheme in 2014 remains at 4,000. Transfers under the scheme can be to RAS accommodation in the private rented sector or to other social housing options. Since the scheme commenced in late 2005 and to the end of Quarter 1 2014 some 48,894 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement to RAS and other...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: This year it is intended that in the region of 6,000 additional social housing units will be delivered across all social housing supply routes including local authority and voluntary housing construction and retrofitting programmes, the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the Social Housing Leasing initiative. I have already, this year, indicated a return to modest levels of new social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In the context of submissions received from local authorities in respect of my Department’s capital investment programme for returning vacant local authority houses to productive use, authorities have indicated that there currently are some 3,016 vacant properties across all city and county councils. In April 2014 I allocated €15 million for works to refurbish a total of 952...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 14 May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. Under Action 8 of Construction 2020, a Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014. To assist in the development of the Social Housing Strategy, the Housing Agency has invited submissions by 31 July 2014. This invitation of submissions is available at the following weblink:

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Question Nos. 378 and 379 together. In 2013, I asked the Housing Agency to conduct a standalone review of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures. While I have received an initial draft of the review from the Agency a number of issues have been identified that need further detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Application Numbers (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: On foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears the Government launched a Mortgage to Rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012. This scheme was extended nationally in June 2012, targeting those low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In the context of increasing rents, especially in the Dublin area, I asked the PRTB to carry out research to explore options to address the difficulties being experienced in segments of the private rented sector and to report back to me with policy recommendations before the end of June. The study is underway but is not yet completed.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons and related services...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014, for which Report and Final Stages will be taken in the Dáil tomorrow, will, among other things, underpin a new tenant purchase scheme to replace the 1995 scheme for existing local authority houses, which closed for new applications at the end of 2012. The new scheme will be broadly similar to the two incremental purchase schemes currently...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: A recent survey of lead housing authorities confirmed that 2,478 unique individuals utilised Section 10-funded emergency accommodation nationally during the week of 7 to 13 April 2014. A regional breakdown of this total is provided in the table below; a county breakdown is not available in my Department. Further details are provided in the recently published Implementation Plan on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including data on the number of social housing units constructed broken down by area and year. The statistics concerned are available on my Department’s website at:by clicking “L.A. Housing Output and Commenced (1994+)” under the Social Housing Supports contents. The following table outlines the amount of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 14 May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Strategy. Construction 2020 acknowledged that while across Ireland effective planning has been at the heart of rejuvenation of cities and towns and the creation of investment and job opportunities, there is also a legacy from some poor past decision making, reflecting an absence of good...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment Issues (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have not been made aware of any issue in relation to a planning file but I am aware that the development in question is part of pre-infringement proceeding in relation to waste water discharges initiated against Ireland by the European Commission in March 2013. My Department issued a formal reply to the European Commission on 21 June 2013 and a response from the Commission is awaited.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (10 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together. Information in relation to the delivery of NAMA sourced units, including a full breakdown by county of units delivered by quarter, is available on the Housing Agency’ s website: . My Department, the Housing Agency and NAMA continue to work together with housing authorities and approved housing bodies in identifying suitable NAMA...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can understand from where the amendments are coming, but I am concerned to ensure the local authority communicates well with tenants. My concern is that if there was a blanket requirement to permit a local authority tenant to have an authorised delegate in all dealings with the local authority, it could hinder and delay the normal process of landlord and tenant communications. In the...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The proposed amendment uses the term "A tenant in all dealings with a local authority" should have the right to an advocate. Therefore, we are talking about all dealings with a local authority, not just dealings relating to eviction. I agree we need good practice for all and if it is necessary for me to communicate more fully with local authorities with regard to this, I will do that....

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The tenancy warning is a specific legislative measure with a particular purpose. I am adding it to the existing procedures of housing authorities to help them to deal with instances of anti-social behaviour in their housing stock. It is part of the ongoing communication, but it has a specific purpose. The purpose of a tenancy warning is to inform a tenant that a condition of his or her...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I accept the Deputy's point, but it is not appropriate to the letter. A council should take various measures to address anti-social behaviour.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: There are already guidelines in place on rent arrears which are applicable to all local authorities. I do not know how a code of conduct would be different from guidelines - they are pretty much the same. The guidelines deal comprehensively with the various aspects of rent management through rent assessment, collection and accounting and place the emphasis on rent arrears prevention and...