Results 1,021-1,040 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Expenditure by my Department in respect of the issues concerned relates to the funding of 5 Local Drug Task Force mainstreamed projects in respect of estate management and community safety. The projects funded are as follows: Dublin City Council (1) Ballyfermot Star Project (provides support for people using drugs or with a history of using drugs, their families, parents and community to...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: The position on this matter was most recently set out in reply to Questions Nos. 285 and 286 of 18 December 2008. The difficulties being experienced by homeowners whose homes have been affected by pyrite in certain developments in and around County Dublin are fully recognized. However, the resolution of problems arising between building owners and builders are matters between the parties...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. These schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupments available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (26 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 — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is a matter for individual housing authorities to plan the composition of their housing programmes having regard to the specific social housing priorities in their areas and to the Exchequer funding allocated to them, based on the housing needs identified in their 2008 statutory assessment. The allocation of a dwelling to a household is also a matter for each individual local authority in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: An application for post-tender approval for this project, costing an estimated €1.613 million, has been received in my Department from Kilkenny County Council who are responsible for the administration of the Capital Funding Schemes in their area. The application is being considered in light of the available funding and competing demands.

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department recently approved the proposal by Fingal County Council to construct 10 new Traveller group houses at Ardla, Skerries. The approved all-in budget cost is €2,188,937, giving a unit cost per house of €218,893. I understand the Council intend to award the contract to the successful tenderer very shortly with a view to commencing construction as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability and the old Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. These allocations represent an increase of 11.4% on the initial allocations for 2008. The 2009 allocation to Wicklow County Council...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability and the old Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. These allocations represent an 11.4% increase on the initial allocations for 2008. At this stage, I do not envisage making further...

Written Answers — Capital Assistance Scheme: Capital Assistance Scheme (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Funding of €878,472 was approved for this project under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme. To date, €853,385 has been paid to Kilkenny County Council, which is responsible for the administration of the scheme in its area. An application from the Council for supplementary funding of €21,528 is under consideration in my Department and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (26 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Local authority borrowers have benefited from very significant easing of mortgage costs in recent months. The effective rate for local authority borrowers from 1 June 2009 will be 2.25% - a cumulative rate decrease since October 2008 of 3%. To date there is no evidence to suggest that wider economic circumstances are creating problems specifically for local authority borrowers in meeting...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (27 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: For the past number of years, my Department has supported an ambitious policy of regeneration that includes a broad range of projects from large, area-based regenerations like Ballymun, to individual inner city flat complexes and specific estates in towns and cities across the country. Overall, there are 13 projects at various stages of development, from masterplanning to construction phase,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department provides funding towards the capital costs of approved new libraries and the refurbishment of existing libraries along with funding for mobile libraries and delivery vans, and recently launched the 2009-2010 Capital Programme amounting to €8.5 million in 2009. I will also be providing some €1.6m this year towards current expenditure relating to the public library service....

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (27 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question Number 50 of 8 April 2009.My Department gave approval to Monaghan Town Council to proceed to tender on the next phase of the project in October 2007. A report on the tender process was received by my Department in February 2009, and following consideration of the report, approval for the project to proceed issued on 25 May 2009. Funding of €1.875 million...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (28 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: Housing loans are provided by local authorities for households who wish to build or purchase their own home, including affordable housing purchasers and local authority tenants who wish to purchase under the tenant purchase scheme, but cannot access finance from private institutions. To ensure effective targeting of resources to support households most in need, income limits are applied,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (28 May 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department has no record of a request for documentation relating to the project referred to. However, in the event of such a request being made, the matter will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

Written Answers — Housing Adaptation Grants: Housing Adaptation Grants (9 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the old Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. In the case of Cork County Council, the 2009 allocation amounts to €6,285,000 compared to an initial allocation of...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (9 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department collates and publishes a wide range of house price statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of housing policy. Among the areas of activity covered are statistics on: · House prices, broken down under a number of headings, including new and second hand properties; · Lending activity for both loans approved and drawn down; · House purchaser demographics (buyer...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (9 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I recently approved funding of €205,000 for Athlone Town Council in respect of an environmental improvement works project for the estate in question. The Council has submitted to my Department a vision plan for the sustainable communities-based renewal of the wider area. The approved environmental improvement works are the first phase of this overall plan which is currently being examined...

Written Answers — Housing Adaptation Grants: Housing Adaptation Grants (9 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the old Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. The 2009 allocation to Kildare County Council amounts to €1,870,000 compared to an initial allocation of...