Results 861-880 of 4,674 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Local Government Reform (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: One of the areas of concern for me is the loss of functions in local authorities. That is an important issue. I will wait to see what are the Minister's plans in that area. There are plans for the Road Safety Authority to take over the issuing of driving licences, there are other issues of monitoring and there are questions over Irish Water and what will be taken out of the hands of local...

Household Charge (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I am opposed to the household charge, the way it is being administered and that it does not take account of people's wealth and those who are very wealthy in society. How does the Minister propose to collect the charge from those who have not paid it? He has said that 60% of householders have complied and 40% have not. It is one thing to talk about going to court and placing the burden of...

Household Charge (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: No. We tell the truth all the time. With regard to the Department's advertising campaign in respect of this charge which was not properly dealt with by the company concerned, what was the cost of that campaign?

Household Charge (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: We are in favour of a wealth tax. We have already said this.

Household Charge (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I apologise.

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: It is disappointing that since last April people who are on RAS have been removed from the housing lists. Many of these housing placements are not permanent housing, but contracts with the local authorities. Some of them can be for up to four years. I recently encountered a person whose landlord indicated that he wished to sell the house. The person was only a year into the four year...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: It is only since April that this has happened.

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: The message does not appear to be getting across. It would be a good idea to remind the local authorities of that provision. With regard to rent supplement, people can be six, seven or eight years on rent supplement or RAS. There must be a cut-off point at some stage so they can avail of local authority and social housing. It is not right. Originally, it was said that this would not last...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I do not know whether Nos. 24 and 49 could be included with this question but the issue is very similar.

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: In terms of maintenance by local authorities, a huge problem is developing with regard to the number of voids left in areas. The Minister of State said that local authorities raise their own funds for the maintenance and the delivery of voids but Dublin City Council now has a huge build up of voids. The problem in my area is getting serious in terms of the number of houses being boarded up...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I heard it, yes.

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Yes, €15,000.

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: One of the reasons the problem is increasing massively is the number of houses being returned to the local authority whether from people who have run into problems with their mortgages or in terms of shared ownership from other places, and getting them back into play is proving very difficult. I am aware there are grants for the local authorities but the problem is we are in a crisis, they...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the Minister for that reply. I am inclined to agree with her about the time on the list issue because we have seen the mess that happened in Dublin City Council, particularly with single males or single females being left on the housing list almost indefinitely, and people with smaller families being subjected to the points system. I know cases can be prioritised, be it on medical...

Local Authority Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: There is too much emphasis being placed on the voluntary housing sector now, rather than on delivery of social housing by the local authorities. The way we are going, we are building large conglomerates in terms of the voluntary housing groups and they will end up with huge portfolios. I disagree with that approach. Social housing should be dealt with by the local authorities. We should...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 40: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to put in place an emergency fund to support local authorities which have vacant units and large housing waiting lists but are unable to fund refurbishment or maintenance work required for retenanting. [31208/12]

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (28 Jun 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 38: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the rental accommodation scheme landlords can decide to sell property which is part of the tenancy agreement; and the measures he plans to put in place to protect tenants and ensure more secure housing conditions. [31218/12]

Public Transport (3 Jul 2012)

Dessie Ellis: Question 85: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the meetings he has attended with trade unions representing workers based in bodies such as Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to discuss the effects of the cuts his Department has made. [32097/12]

Public Transport (3 Jul 2012)

Dessie Ellis: In budget 2012 the Government announced cuts of approximately €22 million for CIE and to the rural transport scheme. Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann carried much of the 8% loss in funding, resulting in fare increases and the further downgrading of services. Routes were closed, while others were limited and changed to adapt to the lower funding level. Our poor and, in many places,...

Public Transport (3 Jul 2012)

Dessie Ellis: I am coming to it. Budget 2013 is being framed an I am asking that we not erode services further. Will the Minister of State give an indication to this effect and that there will not be major cuts? Many of the services and workers cannot take any more. In my area bus services have been cut, with significant consequences. I urge that further cuts not be made.