Results 961-980 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 486 together. My Department has informed Kilrush Town Council that it is favourably disposed towards advancing the proposed project at John Paul Estate under the Remedial Works Programme 2009-2011. Information requested from the Council by my Department concerning design, costing and phasing of the project has recently been received and a number of...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Information on local authority activity under the former Disabled Persons Grant Scheme in 2007 is published in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin for that year, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. Details of the overall expenditure by local authorities in 2008 under the new Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Housing loans are provided by local authorities for those who wish to build or purchase their own home, ncluding affordable housing purchasers, but cannot access finance from private institutions. To ensure effective targeting of resources to support households most in need, income limits are applied, distinguishing between single and dual income households. A maximum loan limit is also...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides, inter alia, that the tenant of a dwelling shall pay to the landlord, or his or her authorised agent, the rent provided for under the tenancy. The Act also provides that the rent may not be reviewed more frequently than once in each period of twelve months, unless a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation has occurred in the interim,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (6 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: An application for post tender approval for this project, costing an estimated €1.018 million, was received in my Department on 5 January 2009. The application will be further considered on receipt of outstanding documentation requested from Kildare County Council on 21 January.

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I assume the Deputy is referring to the new long-term leasing scheme I announced recently. Some €20 million has been set aside by my Department in 2009 to support the leasing of at least 2,000 houses by local authorities for social housing purposes. The cost of the scheme in future years will be dependent on the number of homes leased, the rental payments involved and the length of time...

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: There are two points. The Deputy contradicted the figures made available to me.

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: They are clear, in that the cost for the number of years in question will be approximately €240,000 for the provision of a house to someone on a local authority housing list. To purchase and finance a house over the same period would require €520,000. These are the figures on today's costs, which are available on the website. The old hairy chestnut of bailing out builders has been...

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I do not have that kind of money.

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have an opportunity to get value for money and to reduce the numbers on our housing lists through long-term leases at a price that has not been seen in years. This is what those on the lists want. I would not be doing my duty were I not to examine options to deal with our major housing lists.

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The scheme is for 2009. As the Deputy probably knows, I have been open to new ideas since taking over responsibility for housing. My Department is examining the possibility of an extension to the-----

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I cannot say whether the Deputy's figure will turn out to be exact, as the scheme may vary come 1 January 2010. For example, we might decide to move to rent to purchase. Today's options allow us to avail of properties on the market, in respect of which I have set aside €20 million. People can rest assured that this option will be supported over the ten or 20 years. Since we are in...

Social and Affordable Housing. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: This year, I will provide a minimum of 2,000 extra houses for families on local authority housing lists. This is where the €20 million will go. It is good value for money. The uptake from local authorities is excellent, as is the general public's support.

Urban Renewal Schemes. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: As I announced last week, my Department will once again be supporting an ambitious programme of housing regeneration, remedial and energy efficiency improvement works this year with almost €230 million in Exchequer resources being provided from a number of funding streams within the overall housing programme. Within the regeneration programme, the redevelopment of Ballymun and regeneration...

Urban Renewal Schemes. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: In our programme of housing support in 2008, we supported some 19,000 households, a substantial figure. While there is trimming back of €290 million in the housing capital budget for this year, that figure would meet between 400 and 500 houses. I am providing for 2,000 extra houses under the leasing programme. There will be a net gain of 1,500 or 1,600 houses under the social housing...

Urban Renewal Schemes. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The areas we continue to support are Ballymun, Bridgefoot Street, Queen Seán Treacy House and Lourdes House in Dublin city. We also have regeneration projects in Cork, Waterford, Limerick, while Sligo and Cox's Demesne in Dundalk are at the planning stage. Tralee town council has a new project. I will check up on the estate in Deputy Flanagan's constituency. The sum of €500 million is a...

Housing Needs of the Disabled. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: In line with the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, the development of a national housing strategy for people with a disability, which will support the provision of tailored housing and housing supports at local level, is underway and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009. Progress has also been made on the development of a suite of...

Housing Needs of the Disabled. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I would hope that the local authorities will give priority to this area. We set down some of the protocols and the others are for consultation shortly. We have the back-up in the areas of grants and Part M. I would hope that the local authorities, and local authority members, will ensure that takes place. I understand the housing grants have been notified to local authorities this week....

Housing Needs of the Disabled. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Deputy Lynch will be aware that local authorities put into their budgets a back-up, in some circumstances 30% towards the cost in the case of the older grant and 20% in this one.

Housing Needs of the Disabled. (7 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: In the housing meetings which take place between officials and the Department, they discuss that and some local authorities put in more than others. Therefore, from early on they have an idea of the general amount they are getting.