Results 941-960 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (11 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has not received a proposal from South Dublin County Council on this matter.

Road Safety: Motion (Resumed). (12 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: So we are responsible for that too.

Road Safety: Motion (Resumed). (12 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank Deputies for their constructive contributions to an interesting debate concerning the important subject of road safety and, in particular, the operation of the penalty points and fixed charge systems. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, has asked that I take this opportunity to respond briefly on his behalf to some of those issues. It...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's involvement in the disabled persons grant scheme relates primarily to the recoupment of a portion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. Details of the recoupments to local authorities so far in 2007 are set out in the table. Information on local authority activity under this scheme for the years 2002 to 2006 is published in my Department's Annual...

Homeless Persons. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Significant progress has been made in recent years in tackling homelessness. In the Housing Needs Assessment 2005, local authorities recorded a 46% fall in the numbers of homeless persons nationally, from 5,581 persons in 2002 to 3,031 persons in 2005. A recent survey carried out by the Homeless Agency found that the numbers of rough sleepers in Dublin city had declined from 185 in 2005 to...

Homeless Persons. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Liaising with, and in partnership with, the various voluntary groups, our spending on homelessness increased from €15.84 million in 2000 to €52 million in 2006. In the coming year, the Government will spend €1.7 billion on housing, €114 million of which will be invested in homelessness. Under Towards 2016 and the housing agency's strategy, we aim to move people on from emergency and...

Social and Affordable Housing. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department, in conjunction with the housing forum and related groups, has been active in progressing the social housing reform programme outlined in Towards 2016 and elaborated upon in the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, published in February 2007. Work is well under way on the drafting of a new housing Bill to underpin the reform...

Social and Affordable Housing. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: This is a good news story. We set out to deliver 27,000 units between 2007 and 2009. This year we will deliver 9,000 units, which is on target. Record funding of €1.7 billion will be provided in 2008, which is a 16% increase on last year. Local authorities will deliver 6,500 social housing units and in the first nine months of the year, they delivered almost 4,500. The voluntary and...

Private Rented Accommodation. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: All landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993. Responsibility for enforcing the regulations rests with the relevant local authority. I have no function in the day-to-day operation of the inspection function in local authorities. Good progress is being made with the action programme...

Private Rented Accommodation. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thought I already answered that question when I said we are meeting the targets for social housing. With regard to the standards for private accommodation, there were 30,000 rented accommodation properties registered in 2003. The figure for 2007 is 200,000. There has been a dramatic improvement in this area. With regard to standards, a total of 700,000 new units have been built in the...

Private Rented Accommodation. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are two issues and Deputy Lynch is now confusing regulation and licensing. I indicated that we intend to produce new, improved regulations early in the new year. The regulations will pertain to the outward appearance of private rented accommodation — the paths, driveways and so forth — and, in particular, to the type of heating and insulation levels in the house. These issues...

Private Rented Accommodation. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy was mixed up at the time, not me.

Private Rented Accommodation. (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: With regard to licensing, a report issued by the Centre for Housing Research suggested a pilot system for certification of compliance with private rented accommodation standards. We are examining the centre's proposals at present. I do not anticipate them being introduced immediately because a great deal of research is required in this area. I will report to the Dáil as soon as we make a...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 65 on today's order paper. My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Forum and related groups, has been active in progressing the social housing reform programme outlined in Towards 2016 and elaborated upon in the Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities published in February 2007. Work is well underway on the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 122, 127 and 559 together. The social partnership agreement Towards 2016 contains a commitment to the elimination of the long-term occupancy of emergency homeless accommodation by 2010. It should also be noted that the Homeless Agency, which is the partnership body which coordinates homeless services in Dublin, has defined as its overarching goal the...

Written Answers — Housing for People with Disabilities: Housing for People with Disabilities (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has recently commenced work on the development of a national housing strategy for people with a disability in line with a commitment under my Department's sectoral plan. The strategy is being progressed by a National Advisory Group under the aegis of the Housing Forum, headed by my Department and involving the Department of Health and Children, the Health Services Executive,...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The provision of affordable housing is a key priority for the Government and is a central element of the "Paths to home ownership" component of the Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. Significant progress has been made in increasing delivery under the range of affordable housing mechanisms currently in place, including the Shared Ownership Scheme,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 560 together. The most recent assessment of need for social housing was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of that assessment indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists. Data in relation to these assessments for each housing authority are available on my Department's website at...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: In line with a commitment under my Department's sectoral plan, a protocol governing liaison between the Health Service Executive and housing authorities on the assessment of the individual accommodation needs of people with a disability has been developed and is now being implemented. A protocol governing support costs for social housing projects provided for people with a disability is...

Written Answers — Residential Dwellings Register: Residential Dwellings Register (18 Dec 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 126 together. Significantly increased funding, from the proceeds of tenancy registration fees received by the Private Residential Tenancies Board, is being made available to local authorities in respect of functions relating to private rented accommodation standards and rent books. Over €2m was provided in 2006, an increase of 28% over 2005 funding....