Results 861-880 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (13 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The European Commission has, on three occasions, attempted to overturn the Austrian national ban on certain genetically modified maize. The Commission's most recent proposal was considered at the Environment Council on 30 October 2007. On this occasion the Commission sought only to overturn the prohibition on the import and processing of the maize kernels for use in food and feed;...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The most recent assessment of need for social housing was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of this assessment indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists. More comprehensive data in relation to the 2005 assessment at an individual local authority level were published in the Annual Bulletin of Housing Statistics 2005, a copy...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information sought is published in my Department's Annual and Quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library and on my Department's website www.environ.ie..

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (13 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are no grants available from my Department for the provision of burglar alarm systems. However, the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs manages the Scheme of Community Support for Older People, under which funding can be provided for a range of measures aimed at improving the security of older people, including the once-off cost of installing socially-monitored alarms and...

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, undertaken by my Department in 2002 in consultation with a wide range of interested bodies including local authorities and representatives of the house building industry, professional institutes and voluntary housing providers, concluded that greater flexibility in the operation of the Part V mechanism was required. Measures to...

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased the Deputy asked me about the number of houses and the 20% because there has been misrepresentation of the facts regarding the 20%. One must understand that it does not apply to a development of under five houses, a development on lands of 0.1 hectare or to housing on land not zoned for development purposes. Voluntary housing bodies are excluded and there are some ten year...

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I want to give the Deputy a comprehensive answer. In terms of the money that is with local authorities, I have asked all local authorities for a report as of the end of 2006 on what happened with that money because they can use it to purchase and subvent affordable houses. They can use it to purchase land to develop social and affordable houses. I intend to monitor that. I have requested...

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——real progress is being made.

Social and Affordable Housing. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A total of 3,216 affordable homes were produced in 2006. That was 20% up on 2005. Delivery in the first six months of 2007 was 5% up on 2006. A full year target has been set for the delivery of 5,000 homes in 2007, and we have a target of 17,000 for the period 2007-09. That is a high target but we are satisfied we can reach the target set out for us over those three years.

Private Rented Accommodation. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand the figure of 239 relates to cases reported to the Threshold organisation and that it includes threatened terminations, the majority of which were forestalled. I understand also that where an illegal eviction occurred the matter was referred to the Private Residential Tenancies Board's dispute resolution services. It is considered that the provisions of the Residential Tenancies...

Private Rented Accommodation. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of private rented accommodations registered with the PRTB has increased dramatically from a few hundred in 2002 to approximately 200,000 in 2006. This is an important opportunity to clarify the matters of the Threshold commentary and the 239 illegal convictions. Threshold agrees that, due to early intervention, most of the cases were resolved. In 2006, illegal eviction cases...

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is beyond the scope of Deputy Sheehan.

Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides that rents in the private rented sector cannot be set higher than the open market rate and that rent reviews cannot normally occur more frequently than once a year. Any tenant who considers that the rent sought exceeds the market rate or who has a complaint about a rent review can refer the issue to the Private Residential Tenancies Board for...

Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Rent is generally set on the open market. It has regard to the rents charged in equivalent properties in its area. If people feel that the rent is excessive, then they have the right to refer the matter to the board, which has the right to order a reduction in that rent. However, only 1% of all cases referred to the PRTB in 2006 dealt with rent, which is an interesting figure. If a cap...

Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The important issue raised by the Deputy is that of standards. The Department is anxious that the standard of accommodation is raised to improve the lifestyle of those renting. Recently, I increased the amount of funding to local authorities to examine rental properties and ensure they are up to scratch. There has been a significant increase in local authority inspections in 2006 with...

Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——and an increase that will take from mid-2007 to June 2008.

Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: This will be an adequate amount of money as deemed in this arrangement.

Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: There is a system already in place that anyone renting private accommodation must be registered. If they are not registered, they are breaking the law.

Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Accommodation that is not up to scratch should be reported to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB, which will ensure registration and that the property in question meets the required standards. If those are not met, penalties can be imposed by the board.

Private Rented Accommodation (14 Nov 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Obviously, the Deputy has not listened to the answer. It specifically states that it is a function of the PRTB to review the operation of the relevant legislation, particularly provisions relating to rent and to make recommendations and amendments that are necessary.