Results 841-860 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: The intention of the new leasing initiative is to widen the range of supply options available to authorities to meet housing need and to maximise the level of social housing that can be delivered from within available public resources. While, currently, the lease arrangements envisage that the properties would be returned to the owners at the end of the lease period, the introduction of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 235 of 5 February 2009. Limerick City Council, Limerick County Council, Clare County Council, and the Limerick Regeneration Agencies have received provisional notification of the allocation of some €28 million to support the regeneration of Limerick in 2009. This provisional allocation has yet to be finalised, however, and is subject to further...

Written Answers — Voluntary Sector Funding: Voluntary Sector Funding (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department is aware that Dublin City Council is currently in discussions with the voluntary body Cuain Mhuire Teoranta regarding an application for funding under the capital assistance scheme, for a housing project at 36 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1. As yet my Department has not received an application for grant assistance for this project.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together. All house building is governed by the Building Regulations, which apply standards for the construction of all new buildings, including affordable housing. Local authorities have been advised to take the necessary steps to monitor construction of affordable housing acquired under Part V agreements to ensure appropriate standards and that...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 412 together. My Department held a Housing Action Plan meeting with officials from Dublin City Council on 4 March. This was one of the present round of Housing Action Plan meetings held with all Housing Authorities. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the direction and content of authorities' proposed Social Housing Investment programmes and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: As stated in the reply to Question No. 346 of 3 March, all decisions regarding capital projects will be taken after the current round of Housing Action Plan review meetings which are currently underway between my Department and local authorities. These meetings will be completed within the next two weeks. The purpose of these meetings is to review the individual housing investment programmes...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I understand that Limerick County Council's Rathkeale Local Area Plan supported the establishment of the Rathkeale Forum involving all agencies and groups with an interest in the development of the town and that the Forum will have a key role in the implementation and monitoring of the objectives and policies of the Local Area Plan. No specific request for funding for the Forum has been...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: Dublin City Council continues to liaise closely with my Department on the progress relating to its housing-related public private partnership programme. At present, the City Council is reviewing the project at St. Teresa's Gardens in the context of the current market environment and the requirements of the community at that site, to determine the next steps in the procurement process. The...

Private Rented Accommodation. (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have recently announced my intention to review aspects of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 with a view to considering the scope for further improvements to the legislative framework within which the Private Residential Tenancies Board operates. This would support the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the board in the delivery of its functions. My Department is...

Private Rented Accommodation. (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: In reviewing the operation of the 2004 Act, the PRTB considered the licensing arrangements but did not make a recommendation in this regard. Such issues are understood to be the subject of an insignificant proportion of the cases received by the board. It is, however, mindful of the need to ensure tenancy registration requirements are not avoided through licensing and other arrangements and...

Private Rented Accommodation. (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Deputy mentioned this at our meeting. A tenant has the authority to bring a case to the Private Residential Tenancy Board even if that person is not registered and the PRTB has the authority to act and has acted in such situations. There are two options open to anyone in this situation. He can direct evidence to me or to the Department and it will be dealt with and he is also entitled...

Private Rented Accommodation. (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I did not say it had not been brought to my attention.

Private Rented Accommodation. (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Deputy brought it to my attention himself in my office, so there is no question that the issue was not brought to my attention.

Private Rented Accommodation. (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am aware that the PRTB acts on any issue brought to its attention. It does not consider this to be an issue but, having said that, I have decided to include a review of licences in the overall review of the legislation.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 52 together. The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. In the case of the old Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes, these were funded by 67% recoupment available...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: The 2006 Census of Population enumerates 8,751 bedsits, housing 14,480 people. Of these 1,028 were provided by local authorities. According to the census, just over 250 of these local authority units were occupied by persons aged 65 years or over, representing less than a quarter of a percentage (0.22%) of the total local authority stock in 2006 (115,386). Of the units in question, 203...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 63 together. Over 1,400 prospective purchasers have formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice website (www.homechoiceloan.ie) and these have been contacted in recent weeks to advise that applications are now being accepted. 12 full applications have been made and a significant number of inquiries have also been received from brokers in...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 86 together. Statutory responsibility for the making of agreements under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2007 rests with the relevant planning authority. An agreement under Part V may provide for, inter alia, the developer building and transferring completed houses to the planning authority at a price determined on the basis of the...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 introduced a new regulatory framework governing private rented residential tenancies, providing, inter alia, for: A measure of security for tenants of certain dwellings; Amendment of landlord and tenant law in relation to basic rights and obligations of each of the parties; The cheap and speedy resolution of disputes between such parties; The establishment...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Finneran: Section 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 defines "market value" in the context of affordable housing provided under the Shared Ownership Scheme and the 1999 Affordable Housing Scheme, as meaning the price which, in the opinion of the housing authority concerned, might reasonably be obtained in respect of such house, if sold on the open market. The application of Part V,...