Results 1,001-1,020 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 118 of 9 April 2009 which set out the further guidance, by way of circular letter, which has issued to local authorities in relation to the stock of affordable homes. A copy of the circular letter has been provided to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (12 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I recently announced my intention to review the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 under which the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) operates. The purpose of this review is to consider whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB in the...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (12 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), which commenced operations in September 2004, is at present outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 1997. Given the importance of openness and transparency in relation to the operation of State bodies generally, it is my intention that the Board, subject to exemptions that recognise its quasi-judicial functions, should come under the...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (12 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 - 2008, introduced a requirement for a Building Energy Rating (BER) system. In the case of buildings offered for letting, the Regulations require a landlord to produce a copy of the BER certificate and advisory report...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (12 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 473, 491, 495, 467, 468 and 496 of 6 May 2009, setting out, inter alia, details of the final allocations to local authorities in 2008 under the new Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability and the old Disabled Persons Grant scheme and the initial allocations for 2009 under the revised suite of grants to adapt housing for the needs of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The operation of the various affordable housing schemes is primarily a matter for individual housing authorities and I have no function in relation to valuations of property made by a local authority in individual transactions. Section 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 defines 'market value' in the context of affordable housing provided under the Shared Ownership Scheme and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No 481 of 10 February, 2009. The information received from Westmeath County Council on 21 April, 2009, is being examined by my Department at present.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The power for local authorities to enter into leasing arrangements is a long-standing one, set out under section 56 of the Housing Act 1966. In general, the subsidiarity principle applies to the provision of social housing and it does not therefore fall within the competence of the European Commission unless a particular measure adopted by a Member State impacts upon other areas of Community...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 53 of 8 April 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 — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (13 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service, including equipment, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities. The Department supports the authorities through the setting of general policy and the provision of capital funding including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by the authorities in relation to the purchase of fire appliances. Proposals are...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: There is no funding application in respect of this project with my Department at present.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Over 1,400 prospective purchasers have formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice website (www.homechoiceloan.ie) and these have been contacted to advise that applications are now being accepted. A total of 26 full applications have been made to the four local authorities operating the scheme on a regional basis. To date, no loans have been drawn down under the scheme. Details...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Legislative provision to facilitate arrangements under which a local authority could agree to its claw back charge ranking in second place behind a new or topped-up mortgage charge, thereby facilitating persons in affordable housing wishing to re-mortgage with a private lender, is included in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 which is currently before the Oireachtas and is...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (19 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of housing policy, and anonymised data on house prices and lending activity are included within that range. The full range of data compiled can be viewed on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. My Department's index of new and second-hand house prices is collated on the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Local authorities have recently been advised of their housing programme allocations for 2009. Based on these allocations, it will be a matter for housing authorities to finalise their plans for the composition, management and delivery of their programmes, including purchases, taking into account existing commitments, identifying priority projects and proposals and providing a time line for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (20 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: At a meeting I held with a deputation from New Ross Town Council on 1 April 2009, which the Deputy also attended, the options of refurbishment or demolition and rebuild at the housing estate concerned were discussed, with the latter being my Department's preferred option. New Ross Town Council undertook to consider the matter further and I understand that the Council, at a meeting on 28...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Legislative provision to facilitate arrangements under which a local authority could agree to its clawback charge ranking in second place behind a new or topped-up mortgage charge, thereby facilitating persons in affordable housing, including existing homeowners, wishing to re-mortgage with a private lender, is included in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 which is currently...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (21 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Following the failure to reach agreement with the developer at St. Michael's Estate, O'Devaney Gardens, and Dominick Street in summer 2008, Dublin City Council has examined its options for the regeneration of these sites. A report by a multidisciplinary Special Housing Taskforce, established to develop plans for the regeneration of these estates, was presented to the Council in December...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (21 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Legislative provision to facilitate arrangements under which a local authority could agree to its clawback charge ranking in second place behind a new or topped-up mortgage charge, thereby facilitating persons in affordable housing wishing to re-mortgage with a private lender, is included in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 which is currently before the Oireachtas and is...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides funding to approved housing bodies of up to 100% of the approved cost of accommodation for the elderly, the homeless and persons with special housing needs, including those with an intellectual or physical disability. Currently, projects to the value of €160 million are being advanced through construction stage under the CAS and further projects...