Results 1,261-1,280 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senators for their comments. It can be seen from the Bill as amended that the views of Senators and their contributions were well analysed by my Department and the officials. While not everything has been included, I am pleased that the intentions and wishes of Senators have been considered and there has been an acceptance of the wishes of Members. The matter of the budget is vital...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendments Nos. 2, 29 and 54 to 86, inclusive, deal with the incremental purchase scheme. The main provisions for the incremental purchase scheme arrangements were contained in the Bill as initiated and passed by Seanad Éireann. The amendments made by the Dáil provide for a further number of clarifications and improvements to those provisions. I have also taken the opportunity to align...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: The incremental purchase scheme allows for the first time people allocated a house to enter a purchase scheme on the day they were allocated it. This has not been available to date and this is an innovation contained in this legislation. I have been of the opinion for many years that this opportunity should be given to tenants. It gives the person ownership of the house from the day they...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: Amendments Nos. 3, 13, 14, 18, 19, 87 to 114, inclusive, 142 and 157 deal with the tenant purchase of apartments. I am delighted to report back to the Seanad on these significant amendments to facilitate the introduction for the first time of a scheme of tenant purchase for local authority apartments. The proposed scheme will deliver on the commitment outlined in the Government's housing...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have made provision in the legislation for voluntary bodies to make sales under the incremental purchase scheme. I cannot force them to do so but I have made provision in the legislation for it. Members are aware of the review being carried out of the voluntary housing side of the social housing programme. The report of that review will be available later this year. I will then be in a...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: This large grouping is comprised of stylistic and drafting amendments to delete or insert commas, improve and clarify the meaning of a text, provide more accurate referencing and delete unnecessary content. The amendments are recommended by the Parliamentary Counsel. I recommend them to the House.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: A number of amendments agreed in the Dáil can be categorised under the miscellaneous heading. Within this group there are some substantive changes, to which I will refer briefly. There was a considerable debate on subsection 25(5) during the Bill's passage through the Seanad. The intention of section 25 is to underline the seriousness of actions such as non-payment of rent or breach of...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: The reassessment has resulted in a fair balance. Obviously, people must meet their responsibilities but there are hardship cases. The county manager is entitled to waive whole or part of rent arrears in certain circumstances. The housing authorities have used that entitlement on compassionate grounds in certain areas in the past and I am sure that will continue. It is provided for in law.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: These amendments provide for the introduction of significant changes in the way affordable housing is made available for sale under various affordable housing schemes. They provide for a shift to the equity sharing arrangement and away from the current procedures which involve a time-limited clawback in return for a discounted house. The provisions, which were signalled in the budget of...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: The number of houses the local authorities have on their books is estimated to be approximately 3,700. In some cases local authorities are finding it difficult but I am informed that they are possibly in a position to sell 1,000. To ensure this important infrastructure is available to the people who need it, that is, those on housing lists, I have issued guidelines to local authorities....

Seanad: Music Therapy (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the issues raised by Senator Keaveney. I emphasise the Government's steadfast commitment to people with disabilities and to the national disability strategy and its long-term goals and objectives, which we will continue to pursue in the...

Seanad: Music Therapy (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: The HSE's further submissions to the Department are still being processed. If we await them, we might have more information on the matter.

Seanad: School Accommodation (1 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: I am happy to respond to the debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who unfortunately cannot be in the House this evening. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: Housing loans continue to be 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...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: The provisions contained in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, that will facilitate persons in affordable housing wishing to re-mortgage with a private lender, will take effect on its enactment and subject to a Ministerial order commencing the relevant provisions. The commencement order will be made as soon as possible following due consideration and discussions with...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (2 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: My Department does not fund residents' or tenants' associations directly. However, in line with the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, a specific fund is in place to support initiatives that build and foster the principles of sustainable communities. This fund currently provides support to housing authorities for a range of community...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: In response to my Department's Call for Proposals under the Remedial Works Programme for 2009, Roscommon County Council submitted proposals for refurbishment works in respect of 11 houses in Boyle and 18 rural houses. The proposal for the project in Boyle was approved for inclusion in the new three year remedial works programme and my Department is liaising closely with the Council to ensure...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (2 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: I refer to the reply to Question No. 512 of 9 June 2009. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is a matter for individual housing authorities to plan their social housing investment programmes having regard to the specific social housing priorities in their areas and to the Exchequer funding allocations available to them. €1.3 billion is being provided for the broad range of social housing programmes this year, with €760m of this earmarked for the main local authority housing...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (7 Jul 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Question Nos. 460 and 502 together. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) collects data on vacant properties during the Census as this is the most effective and cost efficient way to audit all housing units nationwide. The 2006 Census found that there were 216,533 unoccupied houses and apartments nationally. The number of vacant properties, broken down by county, is available...