Results 1,141-1,160 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Voluntary Housing Schemes: Voluntary Housing Schemes (17 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: A Grant of €2,248,446 was approved for this project in 2003, of which some €2,136,064 has been paid to Limerick County Council. An application for additional funding was received from the Council on 1 February 2008. This is being examined and the Council will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Strategy on Homelessness: Strategy on Homelessness (17 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Homeless Agency, established in 2001 as part of the Government's Integrated Strategy on Homelessness, is a partnership structure, bringing together the voluntary and statutory agencies involved in planning, funding and delivering services to people who are homeless. The Agency is responsible for the overall management and co-ordination of homeless services in the Dublin area and for the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (17 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The allocation within local authorities of available staffing resources for the carrying out of specific functions is a matter for the City or County Manager concerned under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001. While this is therefore a matter in which I have no direct function, my Department is currently reviewing the overall employment position in the local government sector, in...

Local Authority Housing. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 reflect the strong commitment to expand social housing provision contained in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016. Under the social partnership agreement, local authorities are to deliver 21,000 social housing starts over the period 2007-09. Good progress...

Local Authority Housing. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I do not envisage that there will be any cutbacks. If one considers the allocation for this year, while we are investing €1.7 billion, an increase of 16% on the 2006 figure, the HFA and other agencies will also invest €800 million. As a result, the total spend in the social housing market will be €2.5 billion. On our achievements to date, in 2006 the total figure for house completions...

Local Authority Housing. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is expected that we will have resources available for the remainder of 2008 and for 2009 which will allow us to achieve the substantial target of 18,000 social housing starts. Having met our target in 2007, we have every reason to be confident that we can do so for the 2008 and 2009. The Deputy inquired about affordable housing. I intend to have discussions with the Dublin city manager...

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 116 together. While responsibility for enforcement of the private rented accommodation standards, as prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, rests with the relevant local authority, I am committed to ensuring that a robust framework is in place to promote improved standards in this part of the residential sector. The...

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The issues brought to light by the "Prime Time" programme were of great concern to all of us. However, it must be remembered that the issues the programme raised were on the basis of rent supplement, which is the remit of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and is operated by community welfare officers. Before the programme was broadcast I was very aware of people going into the...

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As usual, the Deputy is misinformed.

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The fact of the matter is that, in 2004, there were 25,000 registrations. Since the setting up of the PRTB, 210,000 registrations took place. Figures for 2007 will show a 40% increase and that there has been an increase from 13,000 to almost 14,000. On the houses that are not up to standard, I refer the Deputy to a report issued by the Centre for Housing Research last year. Of all the...

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have taken action to ensure that local authorities do get involved in this.

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy obviously forgot that I mentioned to him on the last occasion that I am giving money to local authorities on the basis of performance on inspection.

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: If they want to get money out of the rental accommodation scheme, they will have to carry out inspections. That is the way forward as far as I am concerned.

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: It will ensure that local authorities do carry them out.

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The important thing is that the Deputy understands the system. He obviously does not.

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The fact is that if one refers to PRTB registrations alone, one will find that they increased by 44% between 2005 and 2006, and by 40% between 2006 and 2007. I have ensured that local authorities that carry out inspections are being rewarded. Those that are not——

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——are not getting funding to carry out the inspections. On Deputy Ó Snodaigh's question——

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——on rent supplement, I indicated that I will contact the HSE on this matter. I have indicated that——

Private Rented Accommodation. (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——any supplement given is given to a property that meets the required standard.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (22 Apr 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides for a registration fee of €70 per tenancy where it is registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board within one month of the tenancy's commencement. €50 of each €70 fee is used to create a pool of funding from which allocations are made to local authorities to assist them in carrying out their functions in relation to private rented...