Results 1,041-1,060 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: The Government has responded actively to increased levels of housing need by expanding affordable housing output very significantly. In the current year the Government has allocated record levels of funding to local authorities for their affordable housing programmes. Total capital spending on affordable housing output in 2005, including non-voted capital finance, will amount to over â¬432...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: In accordance with Government public procurement requirements, local authorities are requested to ensure that approved voluntary housing bodies who undertake projects under the capital funding schemes are made aware of the need to operate competitive tendering procedures.
- Written Answers — Social Welfare Schemes: Social Welfare Schemes (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 170 together. The issue of possible abuses of the rent allowance scheme has been brought to my attention in my capacity as a public representative. At my request, my Department has raised this concern with the Department of Social and Family Affairs so that the matter can be properly examined and considered by that Department.
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: The voluntary and co-operative housing sector has an important contribution to make in the provision of social housing. By working in close partnership with local authorities, it plays a significant role in supplementing the efforts of local authorities in providing social housing in areas where particular housing needs have been identified. It is supported by my Department through two...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: The most recent assessment of need for local authority housing took place at end March 2005. Local authorities have been asked to forward completed returns to my Department by 27 May and my Department will then collate these returns to present an overall national position. The results of the last assessment were published in November 2002 and I expect that my Department will be in a position...
- Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 497 on 19 April 2005. The position is unchanged.
- Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: The terms of the present tenant purchase scheme strike a reasonable balance between the aspirations of existing tenants to own their homes and providing a fair level of discount having regard to the overall management of the local authority housing stock. While my Department has no immediate proposals to amend the scheme, the terms of the scheme are kept under continuing review.
- Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: The number of transitional and move-on accommodation units funded under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 in various local authority areas in 2004 was 568. This does not include social housing units provided directly by local authorities or voluntary bodies or units sourced in the private sector by individuals, resettlement services, the housing access unit â operated by Threshold on...
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Question No. 77 of 13 April 2005. While the contract negotiations with the preferred bidder for the Harcourt Terrace site have been advanced by Dublin City Council, they have not yet been completed. It is hoped they will be brought to a successful conclusion soon.
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: An application from Carrick-on-Suir Town Council for funding under the housing management initiatives grant scheme is under consideration in my Department and the council will be notified of the decision as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (18 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the essential repairs grant scheme in their area from within the allocation notified to them for disabled persons and essential repairs grants by my Department and to manage the operation of the schemes from within this allocation. My Department recoups to local authorities two thirds of their...
- Order of Business. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: Talk to John O'Connell.
- Security of the Elderly. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 8 together. The community support for older people scheme provides grants to assist communities in improving the security of their older members. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. It provides for maximum individual grants as follows: â¬300 for the once-off installation of socially...
- Security of the Elderly. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: The scheme is community based, administered by the community section of my Department and focused on those over 65. People with disabilities under this age limit may require security equipment grants as well as other aids, but this scheme is not appropriate to meet their needs as it specifically targets older people. People with disabilities receive most supports through the health services...
- Security of the Elderly. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: We will provide new systems where it is established that the old ones cannot be repaired. However, people in the business tell me most of them can be repaired. I am nervous about the issue of obsolescence. If the alarm or pendant is working well a person will not qualify for a new one. I have heard reports, true or untrue, of some suppliers telling people they or their group need a new system...
- Security of the Elderly. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: From the beginning the scheme has been administered once a year. We get queries and complaints from some groups from time to time who feel they should be able to get the pendants on an ongoing basis. However, most groups seem to get by. We advertised for applications some weeks ago. Quite often a number of months pass between the time when a group applies and approval, but most groups get by,...
- Security of the Elderly. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: We have not done any study since our Department took responsibility for the scheme. The scheme has been consistently popular so, obviously, the community groups that apply to the scheme feel it is of benefit. The biggest fear is not so much that houses may be under attack, but that a person alone might be unwell or fall and may need to summon help. I am not aware of any study that has been...
- Court Actions. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: There is one current court action involving the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. As the matter is sub judice, I have been advised by the Office of the Attorney General that I am not in a position to discuss the stated reasons for the matter.
- Court Actions. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: I do not have statistics on the matter. The Deputy is probably making a distinction between court actions in which the Department might be directly involved or other cases before the courts in which the Department might be indirectly involved. I cannot provide figures offhand but I am sure there are very few such court actions, if any at all. However, I will try to find the relevant figures...
- National Drugs Strategy. (19 May 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together. The mid-term review of the national drugs strategy was overseen by a steering group, chaired by my Department, and made up of representatives from a number of relevant Departments and agencies, as well as from the community and voluntary sectors. The group was tasked with examining the overall progress made to date in implementing the...