Results 901-920 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Urban Regeneration Schemes. (1 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is acknowledged that it will take longer to complete the regeneration, not least because there has been a slowdown in the private sector investment needed to secure the sustainability of the project. Ballymun is an area that is being transformed through this regeneration but we must now ensure that the regeneration programme is geared to meet the new challenges we face so that all that has...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (1 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under section 11 of the Housing Act 1988, housing authorities must make a scheme of letting priorities to determine the preference to be afforded to persons in the letting of local authority dwellings. Section 11(2)(c) provides that priority may be afforded under the scheme to emergency cases and such cases could include instances where domestic violence was an issue. The Housing...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (2 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 373, 374, 384 and 385 of 31 March, 2009, setting out the position in relation to, inter alia, the management and operation of voluntary and co-operative housing projects. The terms and conditions of the funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing and the arrangements for the appraisal and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: A Remedial Works Scheme application in relation to the project concerned was received by my Department in response to a circular [N11/08] seeking proposals for new remedial works projects. Following an evaluation of the proposal against the criteria set out in the circular i.e. the age and condition of the dwellings, the unit cost of refurbishment, etc. it was determined that the project was...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: The amount of rent paid to private landlords through RAS is agreed following a negotiated process that takes account of current market rents, the value to the landlord of being accepted on to the scheme and the need to deliver value for money for public investment. The actual rent paid is a matter for the individual authority; however guidance from my Department in relation to this matter...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (7 Apr 2009)

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

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations to individual local authorities under the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability will be announced following the publication of the Revised Estimates of Public Expenditure 2009.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 882 of 24 March 2009. Allocations to local authorities under the Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes and the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are calculated on the basis of a number of criteria and on foot of detailed discussions between my Department and the local authorities. A range of...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: The information requested is set out in the following table. Quarter Households to RAS Q1 2006 493 Q2 2006 375 Q3 2006 592 Q4 2006 873 Q1 2007 611 Q2 2007 888 Q3 2007 711 Q4 2007 916 Q1 2008 717 Q2 2008 994 Q3 2008 867 Q4 2008 1067 Total 9104* *In addition to these 9104 households, a further 8,100 households formerly in receipt of Rent Supplement were accommodated through other...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: As part of the Housing Management Initiative, local authorities have been given delegated sanction for the delivery of their annual Improvement Works Programmes subject to specific conditions and overall programme approval from my Department. Funding for these programmes is provided from the authority's own internal capital receipts from the sale of local authority dwellings and so the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of my Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. Local authorities and approved housing bodies are working in close co-operation to deliver an expanded range of social housing options and a wide range of accommodation types to meet the needs of low-income families...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 to 307, inclusive, together. Allocations to individual local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability will be announced following the publication of the Revised Estimates of Public Expenditure 2009. My Department's involvement with these schemes relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department's commitment to supporting the voluntary and co-operative housing sector as part of our overall approach to meeting housing need remains strong and I welcome the valuable contribution made by the sector in recent years in helping to meet the ambitious targets for social housing set out under Towards 2016. Under the social housing investment programme (SHIP) local authorities...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: Approval issued to Kilkenny County Council on 3 April 2009 in relation to this proposal.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department met with each local authority in early March as part of the annual Housing Action Plan process. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the direction and content of authorities' proposed Social Housing Investment Programmes, including Part V social housing, and particularly to consider the prioritisation of projects and the reconfiguration of the programme as a whole, so...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: Under the Housing Management Initiative, from 1 January 2007, local authorities were given direct control over their Internal Capital Receipts from the sale of local authority dwellings, subject to certain conditions, to be used primarily for planned maintenance programmes and the improvement of their housing stock. Improvements necessary to facilitate older people or people with a disability...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department continues to work closely with Monaghan Town Council on the delivery of its ambitious remedial works project at Mullaghmatt. Following completion of the initial pilot phase, approval was given in October 2007 to proceed to tender for the refurbishment of a further 60 houses. A report on the procurement process was received by my Department in February 2009 and is being...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (8 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment 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 Grants these were funded by 67% recoupment from my Department together with a 33% contribution from the resources of the local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 893 of 24 March 2009. In general, following consideration by the Board of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) the rates charged to local authority borrowers are normally adjusted by the Board, in line with movements in European Central Bank (ECB) rates. However, given that the correlation between ECB rates and interbank rates (i.e. the rates at which the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Apr 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have been in correspondence with the association in question in relation to the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 and I have noted their suggested amendments which will be examined as part of the consideration of the Bill during its passage through the Oireachtas.