Results 1,241-1,260 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (28 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: An application has been received in my Department from Roscommon County Council seeking funding for extensive conversion, extension and new works to the existing Traveller specific accommodation at Turpan Beg, Ballyforan, County Roscommon which was first occupied in 2000. I understand that, following discussions with my Department, the council is re-examining the priority of this proposal vis...

Written Answers — Home Ownership: Home Ownership (28 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not have a detailed breakdown of housing stock by type of purchaser or by category of dwelling status. Information collected as part of the census of population does provide some analysis on vacant dwellings. However, as there may be other reasons why a dwelling is vacant, such as households' absence on the night of the census or that rented dwellings are between lettings,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: Certain clarifications regarding the design and cost of the project submitted under the capital loan and subsidy scheme were sought from Cork County Council, who are responsible for the detailed administration of the scheme in their area. The documentation requested has been received and the application is being considered. The council will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: The administration of the scheme for assisting voluntary housing projects, and the certification that particular projects comply with the scheme's terms, are the responsibility of the local authority, in this case Cork County Council. It is understood that the council is, at present, considering aspects relating to eligibility of this particular project for assistance under the scheme, and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: The capital provision for the payment of disabled persons and essential repairs grants in 2005 is €70 million. Local authorities were notified on 7 June last of their combined capital allocations for these schemes and were requested to notify the Department if it became evident that the allocation notified was likely to be inadequate or surplus to requirements. My Department wrote to local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (28 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: The administration of the disabled persons grant scheme is delegated to local authorities within the framework laid down in statutory regulations. As far as is practicable, this is designed to give an appropriate degree of flexibility at local level. The majority of local authorities have reviewed their schemes over recent years in order to streamline their operation and have introduced a...

Planning Issues. (29 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. A new provision was included in the Planning and Development Act 2000 — section 34(4) — enabling local authorities to add a condition to a planning permission relating to maintenance or management of a proposed development, including the appointment of a person or body to carry implement it. The primary objective of this measure was to give a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: An application has been received by my Department from the group in question under the 2005 programme of grants for locally-based community and voluntary organisations. The process of assessment of the large number of applications received under the programme is ongoing and I expect to decide on qualifying applications early in November 2005.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: Detailed proposals were received in my Department from Mayo County Council in July 2005 for a range of remedial works to be carried out to a significant number of local authority houses in a number of areas across the functional area of the council. My Department has recently issued approval to the council to accept tenders for the refurbishment of rural houses in the Belmullet area. In order...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, announced by the Government in July 2004, local authorities will, over a four-year period, progressively assume responsibility for accommodating supplementary welfare allowance or SWA rent supplement recipients of 18 months or more continuous duration with a long-term housing need. The RAS is a collaborative project between my Department, local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: Detailed information on the number of local authority house starts and completions for the last five years is available in the annual housing statistics bulletins published by my Department, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Figures for 2004 are also available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. New multi-annual action plans have been prepared by local...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (29 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: As indicated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1058 of 12 April 2005, the provision of appropriate heating systems is eligible for funding under both the disabled persons and essential repairs grant schemes. Decisions on the type and extent of work which may be grant aided in individual cases are matters for the local authority administering these schemes in their functional areas. My...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Sep 2005)

Noel Ahern: The level of low cost site subsidy provided by my Department to a local authority under the low cost site scheme varies from location to location depending on factors including the acquisition and development costs of the sites. The price at which the local authority intends to sell such sites to housing applicants is a matter to be determined by individual local authorities and the amount...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (4 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993 specify the minimum standards applying to rented accommodation, both private and social. While the regulations specify minimum standards, I do not accept that they provide insufficient protection for tenants. Accommodation that fully complies with the existing regulations will be of an acceptable standard. As the regulations are now...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: A preliminary report has been submitted to my Department by Dublin City Council setting out an outline of the scope of regeneration proposals for the Charlemont Street flats, including the Tom Kelly flats complex. As this is a preliminary report, the matter will require detailed consideration by the Department, in consultation with Dublin City Council, of the nature and extent of the proposed...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (4 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 557 together. Under the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, announced by the Government in July 2004, local authorities will, over a four-year period, progressively assume responsibility for accommodating supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, rent supplement recipients of 18 months or more continuous duration with a long-term housing need. The RAS is a...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department approved a grant of €185,500 to Sligo County Council in May 2005 for the installation of central heating and related energy improvement works in 36 local authority houses. Arrangements for the commencement of the works are a matter for the council.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (4 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: An inspection, with a view to the issuing of a certificate of reasonable cost, is being arranged and will take place as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (4 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1389 and 1326 of 28 September 2005. Dublin City Council has sought to develop a set of proposals for the sale of flats to tenants, the latest version of which was received in my Department on 29 June 2005. These proposals, which are still at a developmental stage, are being considered in the context of the examination of the range of social...

Written Answers — Violence Against Women: Violence Against Women (4 Oct 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through its role as chair of the national steering committee on violence against women, has overall responsibility for issues relating to violence against women. In relation to accommodation, capital funding is available through my Department's capital assistance scheme to voluntary housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet special...