Results 101-120 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Government accepts that housing supply is the key to keeping house prices down. It is working to that end by investing in infrastructure, using land effectively through higher residential densities and streamlining the planning mechanisms. It is no surprise, therefore, that there was no acknowledgement by the Opposition during this debate of the considerable strides made in the housing...
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: Measures were introduced to boost overall housing output. There were almost 77,000 completions in 2004 compared with a mere 22,000 ten years ago.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: The year 2004 was the tenth year to show a massive increase in housing output. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 marked an important step in developing and modernising the private rented sector. Substantial resources have also been invested in social and affordable housing.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: We are conscious of the problems of affordability faced by peopleââ
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: ââand we will continue to work to ensure house prices come down and more land is made available. That is happening as we speak. The Department is not idle. It is currently examining the NESC and other recent reports. It is paying considerable attention to the proceedings of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution on private property, which has a bearing on the housing...
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: There is a total housing provision of â¬2 billion and this will enable the housing needs of in excess of 13,000 households to be met through the various social and affordable housing measures.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: Further advances in meeting long-term housing needs are expected this year from the new rental accommodation scheme. Contrary to what has been said by some Deputiesââ
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: ââit should be clarified that social housing output is not delivered solely by local authorities. We have moved on.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: We have developed and expanded the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in recent years to a point where over 1,600 units of accommodation were provided last year for people in need. It is a record for the sector and is almost three times the output levels achieved by the rainbow Government.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Government is fully committed to continuing the supports for this sector. It is making a substantial contribution to overall housing output. The Opposition went to great lengths in its attempts to pour cold water on the likely impact of the rural housing guidelines which were launched last week.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: The guidelines are explicit in a way that they never were previously.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: They are a massive step forward in defining what are reasonable proposals and suitable sites. They go significantly further than both the 1997 sustainable development strategy and the national spatial strategy in providing the policy framework for local authorities to plan effectively for their areas.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: My advice to Opposition Members is that they tell their councillors that the development plans and local area plans are being implemented and urge them to ensure that their local authorities will put the guidelines in place.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: The Opposition also took issue with the long-standing system of development contributions. The Fine Gael Party was at one with the Government with regard to the Planning and Development Act and the transparency and accountability it would yield. Suddenly, Fine Gael is questioning the contributions. These contributions will ensure the provision of playgrounds, community facilities and the...
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: Once again, as they did before the last election, Fine Gael Members are defining Fine Gael policy on the hoof, which cannot be delivered in the long term.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: Why not mention the exemption in the budget or the tax relief in the previous budget?
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: At that time the economy was on the floor.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: Good management.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: I am supposed to be environmentally friendly over here.
- Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Batt O'Keeffe: Does the Deputy ever stop on occasion and look at the facts?